Gerald R. Ford-class

The Gerald R. Ford class is a series of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers developed for the United States Navy. Designed to replace the Enterprise and Nimitz classes, the program originated as the CVN-21 project to address power and weight limitations in existing carrier designs. Construction of the lead vessel, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), began in 2005 at Newport News Shipbuilding, with the ship entering service in July 2017.

The design maintains a hull form similar to the Nimitz class but features a smaller island superstructure positioned further aft. The class incorporates the A1B nuclear reactor, which generates increased electrical power to support shipboard systems. Key technologies include the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which replaces traditional steam catapults, and the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) for aircraft recovery. These systems are designed to reduce stress on aircraft airframes and enable the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles. Internal logistics are managed through high-capacity weapons elevators utilizing linear motors, designed to move ordnance from storage to rearming locations without obstructing flight deck operations. The ships are equipped with active electronically scanned array radar systems, specifically the Dual Band Radar on the lead ship and the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar on subsequent vessels.

The class is designed for a smaller complement than preceding supercarriers, utilizing automation to reduce the required crew. Accommodations include smaller, gender-neutral berthing areas and separate lounge spaces. Operational service of the lead ship has identified issues with the vacuum-powered waste plumbing system, necessitating periodic acidic flushes to maintain functionality.

The United States Navy intends to procure ten ships of this class to maintain its carrier fleet through a one-for-one replacement of older vessels. Following the commissioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the second ship, John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), is scheduled for commissioning in 2027. Further vessels under construction or planned include the Enterprise (CVN-80), Doris Miller (CVN-81), William J. Clinton (CVN-82), and George W. Bush (CVN-83). The Navy expects the class to remain in service through the year 2105.