Posted on 09/17/2008 10:12:37 AM PDT by Reaganesque
September 17, 2008 The tenth and final nuclear-powered Nimitz-class supercarrier, George H. W. Bush, enters service in 2009, but the next-generation is on its way. The Gerald R. Ford CVN 78 is the first ship in the first new carrier class in over 40 years. Northrop Grumman has received a $5.1 billion, seven-year contract for construction of the CVN 78, which is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2015.
Northrop Grumman began advance construction of the Gerald R Ford in 2005, under a separate $2.7 billion contract. Roughly one third of the ship’s 1,200 structural units are currently under construction, with the keel scheduled to be laid in 2009. The Navy is expected to build 11 of the carriers, each worth approximately $8 billion, continuing construction into 2058.
The Gerald R Ford class carriers will have a larger flight deck, improved weapons handling, a smaller island, a new Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System, an Advanced Arresting Gear, and a new A1B nuclear propulsion and electricity generation system. The technological advancements in the Ford design result in a 25% increase in sortie generation, a 25% reduction in necessary manpower, a threefold increase in electrical generating capacity, improved self defense capability, increased launch/recovery capability, increased ability to incorporate future upgrades, and increased operational availability.
By changing the layout of the flight deck, and pushing back the island, the carrier minimizes aircraft movements and decreases the workload for personnel. The centralized re-arming location, and the use of robots to move ordnance, also boosts efficiency and allows aircraft to re-arm in “minutes instead of hours.”
The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System (EMALS) has a higher level of control than the steam-powered catapults employed by Nimitz-class carriers. EMALS can launch heavier and lighter craft, making it compatible with UAVs. EMALS is more efficient, smaller lighter, more powerful, easier to control, and places less stress on airframes by gradually increasing the aircraft’s speed. UAV integration is also made possible by the Advanced Arresting Gear System, which uses electromagnetism, rather than hydraulics, to capture aircraft.
The inability of current aircraft carriers to effectively handle UAVs is a reminder of the need to plan for technological advancement. While the USS Enterprise, (the ship being replaced by the Ford), is still serving 50 years after it was laid down, it is increasingly unable to adapt to upgraded systems. With currently planned systems on the CVN 78 consuming only half of its generated power, the ship is well prepared to incorporate future energy-hungry systems such laser guns, dynamic armor, and new tracking devices.
Anything to improve aircraft recovery would be a plus. The system is medieval.
I believe Carter has a nuke sub named after him.
They named a submarine after him rather than a carrier, something about him being on Rickover’s staff, and as he never tired of reminding people, “ahma nukular engineeah”. I further understand that the sailors that serve aboard it call it by it’s numerical designation, rather than its nickname, unlike every other submarine in the fleet.
Hydro foil Aircraft carrier 45-50knots maybe.
Yea, cause you don't want people joking: Found On Reef Dead.
GMTA
there used to be a law requiring capital ships (battleships at the time) to be named after the States. Doesn’t matter anyway. Obama will cancel it.
Ford is better than calling it the USS Volvo!
The Kennedy would still be in service if Carter had not changed it from nuclear to conventional power in a fit of trying to be liked by the rest of the world.
A garbage scow.
I see no need to insult garbage scows. They do very important work, sometimes with dignity. Clintoon does nothing important and is always sleazy.
EM Rail guns are planned for the new DDX destroyer and other future naval combat ships.
I think there was a campaign to name it USS America. There were some threads about it last Winter.
CondorFlight,
There is no more effective weapons system on the planet than a US Navy Carrier Battle Group. They are expensive, but keep in mind, a ship, sub or plane has to carry those cruise missiles to the launch point. Subs are nearly as expensive as a carrier, and not nearly as versatile a weapons platform. On the last one, there is a treaty against space based weapons systems. So bang for the buck, it’s a carrier.
Not bad, considering no other nation on the planet can come close to creating such a vessel. Imho, UCAVs will ultimately end up being a major weapons system and the excess electrical power will be used to turn seawater into a fishbowl for sub torpedoes/cruise missiles a long way around this ship...
On a lighter note: A block of (ahem...)bordellos below where the island used to be(say Naples variety...)will enhance sea-duty morale——considerably? ;o]
Semper Fi,
Col J,naval aviator/fighter pilot
CV-42, USS FDR, was launched in 45 & decommissioned in 77. But they haven’t named one since. Maybe Thats the plan - they used to name new ships after ones recently decommissioned - once the ships are retired the name will be retired as well.
“I agree. Nothing against Ford, for I thought he did a credible job under difficult circumstances, but the US Navy without a USS Enterprise is unthinkable.”
They’re saving that name for the Starship they’re building out at Area 51
Hey! That is a great idea. We can get corporate sponsorship for these aircraft carriers. We can have the USS Altria Group (formerly Phillip Morris), the USS ExxonMobil, the USS GoDaddy.Com, and of course the USS Hallburton.
Oh Gag Me! Is that the reason we still have some conventional power carriers? I was really wondering about that after they mentioned it in Carrier. That’s a good reason right there to never name one after him. Guess he wasn’t so proud of his nukular engineering work after all.
I could go for the USS America F Yeah...
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