[pabianice]

The bad news is that CVN(X) is dead, and thus there are no follow-on carriers. I foresee smaller ships like LHAs carrying unmanned aircraft as replacements to our CVNs. The last manned tactical aircraft crews are now being trained.

[KarlInOhio]

The bad news is that CVN(X) is dead, and thus there are no follow-on carriers.

They're canceling the USS Ford?

[B-Chan]

Yep. The age of the big-deck fleet carrier is just about done. The future belongs to jeep carriers and carrier subs packing unmanned multirole aircraft.

B-Chan
Former MM3
USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)

[Jeff Head]

Where is your source fo the CVN-78 being dead?

Construction has already started on CVN-78, USS Gerald Ford, and the other follow-on carriers are still in the budget cycle, slated to replace the Nimitz class one for one after the Ford replaces the Enterprise.

The one caviat with the Obama budget regarding carries is that we will be down to ten carriers for several years after the Ford comes online...but slated to go back to 11 in the late 20-teens.

Here are some pics of the current CVN-78, PCU Gerald Ford construction:

Inner bottom unit of PCU Gerald Ford hoisted by crane at Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding


Propeller shafts for CVN-78 in machine shop.


CVN-78 side shell unit being lifted in place.


CVN-78 Structural units on final assembly.