Aircraft carriers have formed the cornerstone of U.S. naval power for decades, representing the most agile and durable airfields in the world. These giant ships and their air wings are forward deployed and ready to conduct a diverse set of missions-from sea control and strike operations to maneuvering within the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace. No other navy can show the variation in combat capabilities at sea matched by that of U.S. aircraft carriers.
In crises, it is said, the first question any leader asks is, “Where are the carriers?” The presence of an aircraft carrier itself has usually been enough to persuade adversaries from challenging U.S. interests. Aircraft supported and operated by these carriers conduct attacks on airborne, afloat, and ashore targets, ensuring free use of the sea and sustained power projection in support of U.S. and coalition forces. They also contribute vitally to maritime security operations, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance, bringing special capabilities such as helicopters for direct support and advanced C4I assets.
Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers are the biggest warships in the world, created to provide around 50 continuous years of service with mid-life refueling. Commissioned in 2017, USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) is the first of a new class of aircraft carriers, the next generation in nuclear-powered aircraft carriers after the Nimitz class. Ford-class aircraft carriers would serve as the preeminent forward asset for crisis response and decisive striking power in major combat operations.
These Ford-class carriers would offer advanced warfighting capabilities, improved quality of life for sailors, and reduced total ownership costs. The lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford, completed Full Ship Shock Trials last August 2021 after an 18-month Post Delivery Test and Trials period and the Combat Systems Ship’s Qualification Trials performed exceedingly well. Since her delivery, the ship has completed more than 8,100 launches and arrests using the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System and Advanced Arresting Gear.
The Ford-class is designed, as stated, to be able to work with almost 600 fewer crew members than a Nimitz-class ship can operate, made possible by advances in ship design and technology. The first warship to integrate all-electric utilities, replacing steam service lines and reducing maintenance requirements, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) offers more capabilities with manning reduced due to the new A1B reactor, EMALS, AAG, and DBR. Systems and configuration of the ship are optimized to maximize the sortie generation rate (SGR) of embarked strike aircraft, which equates to an increase in SGR of 33 percent over the Nimitz class.
The Ford-class carriers are designed to accommodate new systems with its 50-year service life from laser weapons to advanced sensors: This class inherits a legacy of innovation in aircraft carriers from the United States Navy going back to the USS Langley, CV-1, into the present day. From the introduction of jet aircraft to angled decks to nuclear power, each of these innovations helped to keep the aircraft carrier fleet relevant during the Cold War and continues to do so in the era of great power competition today.
USS Gerald R. Ford has been pivotal in qualifying F/A-18 strike-fighter pilots, hosting five Fleet Replacement Squadron carrier qualification detachments since March 2020. These qualifications represent the culmination of two years of challenging training for naval aviators as they prepare to join the fleet in front-line strike-fighter squadrons, said Capt. Dan Catlin, Commanding Officer of VFA-106. Capt. J.J “Yank” Cummings, Ford’s commanding officer, attributed the quality of the ship’s crew and their determination to master the advanced technology found on Ford’s EMALS and AAG as reasons for successful qualifications.
Just recently, the JWGACTC held its sixth meeting in India, where a very successful bilateral information and best practices exchange was conducted on ship construction and maintenance. Rear Adm. James P. Downey, head of the US delegation, pointedly noted that a spirit of cooperation has been created with counterparts in the Indian Navy. The visit also included a tour of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant- expressing its aspiration toward greater self-reliance.
The Gerald R. Ford-class carriers represent a quantum leap in naval warfare, ensuring the U.S. Navy remains ready and resilient now and in the future. Bringing advanced technology, increased capability, and reduced total ownership costs, these carriers will remain the cornerstone of ensuring maritime superiority around the world for generations to come.