CVN-78 USS Gerald R. Ford (Building)

Each of these vessels will carry an airwing of fixed wing aircraft, VSTOL aircraft, helicopters, and unamanned arial vehicles (UAV) that is larger and more powerful than many nation's complete air force. By having the resources, the experience, and the capability to operate eleven such vessels (where each vessel is surrounded by an extensive force of other surface and sub-surface combatants that make up each Carrier Strike Group (CSG)), the United States will remain the unchallenged, dominant sea force on earth.

The USS George HW Bush, CVN-77, was christened on October 7, 2006, and replaced the USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63, in 2008. Although officially listed as a Nimitz class carrier, CVN-77 also represents a transformation step in US carrier development from the Nimitz class towards the CVN-21 program.

Initial steel cutting for the USS Gerald R. Ford was accomplished in August of 2005. The keel laying is expected to occur in late 2009 or early 2010 and the vessel is expected to be commissioned in 2015. CVN-78 will replace the USS Enterprise, CVN-65, America's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier in that year. Among the innovations contemplated for the Ford class carriers, are:

• A much more efficent nuclear reactor system providing three times more power.
• Electromagnetic aircraft launch and recovery replacing current steam catapaults and current arrestor systems.
• A redesigned, more efficent, and more stealthy island.
• More automated systems, providing for reduced manpower requirements and more efficent aircraft weapons handling, battle management, and damage control operations.
• Potential exotic defensive weapons systems operating off of the increased electrical power.
• 20% more sortie capability for the embarked airwing.
• 25% more operational availability of the carrier.