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USS Gerald R. Ford

Short answer: USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is the lead ship of the US Navy's newest class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

It was delivered on May 31, 2017, and commissioned on July 22, 2017, at Naval Station Norfolk. According to the Congressional Research Service, its two A1B reactors give it about three times the electrical generating capacity of a Nimitz-class carrier. The class is designed for a sortie rate about 33% higher than the Nimitz class, with about 700 fewer shipboard crew. New systems include EMALS electromagnetic catapults, Advanced Arresting Gear and electromagnetic weapons elevators. Pentagon testers and the GAO have reported reliability problems and delays with several of them. The ship's first full deployment came in 2023.

VideoWrite-up3 sources

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What should you know about USS Gerald R. Ford?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Ford's A1B reactors give it about three times the electrical capacity of a Nimitz-class carrier (CRS).

    DD-710-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit B (More power)

  2. Ford was commissioned on July 22, 2017.

    DD-710-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit A (The ship)

Video transcript: USS Gerald R. Ford: Launching Jets Without Steam

DID YOU KNOW? The USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of the Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier, representing the newest generation of American nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Commissioned in 2017 and named after US President Gerald R. Ford, the ship introduced several major technological upgrades compared with earlier carriers like the Nimitz class aircraft carrier. These include the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS, advanced arresting gear for landings, a redesigned flight deck for higher sortie rates, and improved nuclear reactors that generate far more electrical power for future systems.

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 32.5s Reel ·

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USS Gerald R. Ford: Launching Jets Without Steam Instagram Reel · · 32.5s

The write-up

Launching jets without steam. The Navy's newest carrier class uses electromagnetic catapults.

  1. Exhibit A

    The ship

    CVN-78 is named for the 38th US president. It was delivered on May 31, 2017, and commissioned on July 22, 2017. The follow-on ships in its class are John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), Enterprise (CVN-80) and Doris Miller (CVN-81).

  2. Exhibit B

    More power

    According to CRS, the two A1B reactors give the ship about three times the electrical generating capacity of a Nimitz-class carrier. That headroom is meant for electric catapults, elevators and future systems.

  3. Exhibit C

    Launch and recovery

    EMALS replaces steam catapults with linear electric motors, and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) replaces the older hydraulic arresting engines. Electromagnetic weapons elevators move munitions between decks.

  4. Exhibit D

    Design goals

    The Navy's targets for the class are about 160 sustained and 270 surge sorties a day, about 33% more than the Nimitz class, with about 700 fewer shipboard crew.

  5. Exhibit E

    Growing pains

    DOT&E annual reports and GAO reviews have flagged the reliability of EMALS, AAG and the weapons elevators. The ship's first full deployment came in 2023, about six years after commissioning.

Questions people ask about USS Gerald R. Ford

What does EMALS replace?

Its linear electric motors replace steam catapults.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Launch and recovery) · Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress; Wikipedia: USS Gerald R. Ford

Roughly how much electrical generating capacity does Ford have compared with a Nimitz carrier, per CRS?

About three times.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The ship) · Wikipedia: USS Gerald R. Ford; Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress

When was the ship commissioned?

It was commissioned on July 22, 2017. Delivery was May 31, 2017.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (More power) · Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress

What is Ford's hull number?

CVN-78.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The ship) · Wikipedia: USS Gerald R. Ford; Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress

About how many sustained sorties a day is the class designed for?

About 160, with up to 270 in a surge.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Design goals) · Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What does EMALS replace?

    1. Steam catapults
    2. Arresting wires
    3. Jet engines
    4. Radar
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Steam catapults Its linear electric motors replace steam catapults. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Launch and recovery) · Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress; Wikipedia: USS Gerald R. Ford

  2. Roughly how much electrical generating capacity does Ford have compared with a Nimitz carrier, per CRS?

    1. About the same
    2. About 1.5 times
    3. About 3 times
    4. About 10 times
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. About 3 times About three times. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The ship) · Wikipedia: USS Gerald R. Ford; Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress

  3. When was the ship commissioned?

    1. July 22, 2017
    2. May 31, 2017
    3. November 9, 2013
    4. 2023
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. July 22, 2017 It was commissioned on July 22, 2017. Delivery was May 31, 2017. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (More power) · Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress

  4. What is Ford's hull number?

    1. CVN-68
    2. CVN-78
    3. CVN-79
    4. CVN-81
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. CVN-78 CVN-78. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The ship) · Wikipedia: USS Gerald R. Ford; Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress

  5. About how many sustained sorties a day is the class designed for?

    1. 60
    2. 120
    3. 160
    4. 400
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. 160 About 160, with up to 270 in a surge. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Design goals) · Congressional Research Service: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program, Background and Issues for Congress

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "USS Gerald R. Ford." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-710, last updated Mar 30, 2026. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/uss-gerald-r-ford/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/uss-gerald-r-ford/ · Last updated

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