The U.S. Navy has always been at the forefront of any naval innovation, and this commissioning of two of its most advanced aircraft carriers is not an exception: the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).
The USS Gerald R. Ford, CVN 78, commissioned on July 22, 2017, is the first new aircraft carrier design since the USS Nimitz, CVN 68. This advanced ship now carries two newly designed reactors with a much-increased electrical capacity over the previous generation. The ship is also fitted with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), electromagnetic Advanced Arresting Gear, and electromagnetic weapons elevators which would provide for more efficient and faster aircraft launch and recovery operations. The redesigned “island” superstructure integrates the latest flat panel array radar systems and dual-band radar and has been relocated 140 feet farther aft. These enhancements yield a 25 percent increase in the area for launching and recovering aircraft on the flight deck. In addition, this carrier has three, rather than four aircraft elevators, further optimizing its operation capabilities.
At the same time, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) was commissioned on January 10, 2009. The carrier’s namesake, 84-year-old former President George H.W. Bush, spoke to the sailors during the commissioning ceremony of the aircraft carrier and told them how dear the ship and its crew were to his heart. He said as they were about to board the ship, they did so with the hopes and dreams of every freedom- and peace-loving American as well as with the steady respect and admiration of the Bush family. The 1,092-foot, 20-story USS George H.W. Bush was decked out in red, white, and blue banners for Saturday’s ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, an homage to its patriotic name.
These two carriers differ in technological advances and timelines and bind continued commitment by the U.S. Navy to ensure naval superiority and a legacy of those who have served. The USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS George H.W. Bush have become the very embodiment and commitment to recognizing innovation, efficiency, and protection in support of freedom and peace.