Aircraft carriers have long formed the bedrock of American maritime supremacy as the most agile and survivable airfields in the world. At any moment, the sailors on an aircraft carrier and its air wing stand ready for everything from sea control to strike missions and electromagnetic maneuvers in cyberspace. The U.S. Navy fleet, manned by the Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, is emblematic of this unrivaled fighting ability.
The Nimitz-class carriers were first deployed in 1972 and have since been a symbol of American naval power. These nuclear-powered giants were supposed to dominate contested environments-a legacy of the Cold War era. Recent rises in anti-access/area denial systems, have led to further challenges for their operational effectiveness. While these warships remain marvels of engineering, during contemporary warfare, their capabilities are limited because A2/AD systems have taken center stage.
To counter these emerging threats, the U.S. Navy has begun transitioning to Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), commissioned into service in 2017, represents a generational leap in naval aviation. This class of ship introduces 23 new technologies, including the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS, and Advanced Arresting Gear, also known as AAG, to increase lethality, survivability, and interoperability with the joint services. Where the Ford-class carriers excel is in operating a 20% reduced crew size from their predecessors, the Nimitz class, due to advanced degrees of automation and efficiency.
The USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in Split, Croatia, for a scheduled port visit. It underlined a strong partnership between the United States and Croatia, Rear Adm. Erik J. Eslich, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 12 said. He added that this visit provides an invaluable opportunity for mutual security training and cultural exchange. “It is a welcome opportunity for our crews to enjoy a beautiful country and experience the Croatian culture, but also for us to engage with a crucial ally and build upon the strong U.S.-Croatia relationship that is founded on our shared values,” he said.
Currently, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the United States Navy’s dedication to global maritime stability and security. The GRFCSG is an agile force composed of Carrier Strike Group 12, Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron 2, USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Ramage (DDG 61), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) capable of responding to emergent missions and deterring potential adversaries.
The successors of Wasp and the American Gerald R. Ford class have alleviated none of these concerns about aircraft carrier relevancy in an A2/AD-dominated world. Unless these expensive vessels can operate inside the reach of modern defenses, many experts believe that they will eventually become obsolete. Although still formidable, the reach of A2/AD systems hobble Nimitz-class carriers in their ability to deploy air wings forward into a contested environment.
However, warfighting improvements combined with manpower reductions come with the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. For instance, in August of 2021, the USS Gerald R. Ford completed FSST, where it demonstrated impressive performance and system reliability. The configuration of the ship and its electrical generating plant are optimized to a degree that even more additional new systems can be installed in the future, such as directed energy weapons, keeping this class relevant for decades to come.
The U.S. Today’s innovating and adaptive Navy does so as they change; for the future of naval power, look to the carriers of the Gerald R. Ford class. These warships build on a legacy of aircraft carrier innovation from the USS Langley, CV-1, through the Cold War and into today. The jet airplane, the angled deck, and nuclear power were all steps to keep the fleet of aircraft carriers relevant. And the class of Gerald R. Ford, in turn, continues such traditions of adaptability with technological development.