USS Gerald Ford

ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 19, 2020) Lt. Scott “Gameday” Gallagher lands an F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to “Blue Blasters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34, for the 1,000th trap on USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) flight deck during flight operations. Ford is currently underway conducting its flight deck and combat air traffic control center certifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gary Prill)

Though the announcement might seem mundane, it represented a great success for the aircraft carrier. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of the Gerald R. Ford-class, the U.S. Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier to date. The carrier’s design features several significant improvements over the previous Nimitz-class carriers.

Though both classes are nuclear-powered, the Ford’s reactors provide greater electrical output. The new carriers rely on electrical systems to a greater extent than their predecessors, and the extra output will allow the class to operate directed-energy weapons in the future. Another Ford-class improvement is the carrier’s electromagnetic aircraft launch system which replaces the legacy steam-powered catapults.

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February 20, 2026 | 12:47 am