Specifications USS Gerald R. Ford, The US Navy's Largest Nuclear Aircraft Carrier in the World |
International Military - USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the lead ship in the Ford class nuclear powered carriers, the first new class in more than 40 years in the United States Navy (USA). With a length of more than 13 tennis courts and a displacement of 100,000 tons, the USS Gerald R Ford is the largest aircraft carrier in the world.
The name CVN-78 is taken from the name of the 38th President of the United States Gerald Rudolph Ford. It was in honor of his lifelong service to the Navy, to the government and to the country. During World War II, Ford attained the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy, serving on the light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL 26). Ford became president and served in the nation's highest office from 1974-1977.
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USS Gerald R.Ford (CVN-78) and Nimitz Class Carrier- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) |
USS Gerald R Ford Aircraft Carrier Mission
USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) is the first new aircraft carrier to be designed in over 40 years. The sailors serving aboard the Ford were tasked with ensuring the ship was capable of carrying out national duties for decades to come. While they may seem similar to Nimitz-class carriers, there are many features that make Ford unique.
First-class technologies include new nuclear plants, the ability to generate nearly three times the amount of electrical power, innovative advanced capture equipment, and electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS). EMALS replaces the steam catapult system traditionally used to launch aircraft and will broaden the scope of aircraft launches, paving the way for innovation in manned/unmanned aircraft as well as providing opportunities for other technological advances in the future.
This giant ship has just undergone a joint war game with the navies of NATO countries in the Atlantic Ocean. On Monday, USS Gerald R Ford docked near the port of Portmouth, England.
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The following are the specifications of the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier:
- Name: USS Gerald R Ford
- Award of Development Contract: 10 September 2008
- Creator: Newport News Shipbuilding
- Estimated Development Costs: 12.8 billion and additional costs of USD 4.7 billion
- Commissioning Date: 22 July 2017
- Headquarters: Norfolk Harbour
- Type: Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier
- Weight: 100,000 tonnes
- Length: 1,092 feet (333 meters)
- Flight deck: 256 feet (78 meters)
- Power: Two Bechtel A1B PWR nuclear reactors, 93.5% HEU.
- Speed: Over 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
- Reach: Unlimited
- Transport capacity: 75 aircraft and 4,000 troops
- Sensor Equipment: AN/SPY-3 Active electronically scanned Multi-Function Radar (MFR) and AN/SPY-4 Active electronically scanned Volume Search Radar (VSR) S band array
- Armament: RIM-162 ESSM and RIM-116 RAM surface-to-air missiles, Phalanx CIWS, 25 mm Mk 38 Machine Gun System, and .50 caliber M2 Machine Gun