The Ford-class USS John F. Kennedy is expected to reach operational capacity by the end of the decade.
USS Nimitz just departed for its final deployment cycle after serving the Navy for more than half a century. Once this legendary aircraft carrier is officially scrapped for retirement, what will be replacing this behemoth of a warship? The Ford-class ships are the Navy’s latest carrier rendition. Equipped with all the latest emerging technologies and other enhancements, this new class will truly be unstoppable once operational capacity is reached for each ship. So far, only the lead ship of the Ford-class, USS Gerald R. Ford, has been commissioned. However, the Navy appears to be making progress in ensuring this next-generation carrier class is introduced on schedule. This week, the service revealed that it would be spending $300 million to modernize Naval Base Kitsap to become the first Pacific homeport of the Ford-class warships.
The next Ford-class ship scheduled to be commissioned is the USS John F. Kennedy. According to a press release, “The Navy proposes to replace an older Nimitz-class aircraft carrier with the newer Ford-class aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy and upgrade the electrical distribution system at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton to support the new Ford class carrier.” If everything goes as planned, John F. Kennedy is scheduled to begin the commission phase this summer and is expected to reach operational capacity by the end of the decade.
An overview of the Ford-class ships
The Ford-class ships have huge shoes to fill both literally and figuratively. For fifty years, the nuclear-powered Nimitz-class has served as the cornerstone of American naval power out at sea. Their successors, incorporating advancements ranging from armament power to sortie capability, will ensure U.S. power can be projected even in the most hostile threat arenas. When it comes to energy, a pair of Bechtel A1B reactors onboard the Ford ships will generate 600MW of electrical power. Onboard the Nimitz carriers, A4W reactors can only generate 200MW of electrical power. Another major difference between both carrier classes is the ability to launch aircraft.
The Ford ships are being developed to feature an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and an Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), enabling these carriers to launch 25 percent more sorties than their predecessors. Able to launch more aircraft, the Ford carrier and its corresponding carrier strike groups will be able to provide additional striking power in combat operations. Currently, USS Harry S. Truman (soon to be accompanied by USS Carl Vinson) is actively launching strikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels based in Yemen, highlighting what an increased sortie rate could provide in combat zones. In addition to its improved launch capability, the Ford ships are designed with Advanced Weapons Elevators (AWS) aboard that will use emerging technologies like hydraulic systems and electromagnetic motors. Additionally, fewer sailors are required to move ordnance safely on board with these AWS, another bonus for the fleet.
Once John F. Kennedy joins its sister ship out at sea, the Navy will be well on its way to fulfilling its goal of fielding enough Ford-class ships to adequately replace its Nimitz carriers on time.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: DVIDS.
