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WorldWideAircraftCarriers.com - CVN21 Class Page


SPECIFICATIONS	PHOTOGRAPHS (Click on the pictures for an enlarged photo)
Designation: CVN Length: App 1100 ft Width: 250+ ft Beam: 135+ ft Displacement: 102,000 tons Propulsion: 2 nuclear reactors, 4 shafts Speed: 30+ knots Crew: App. 4,600 (includes air crew) Airwing: 85 fixed, UAV, rotary Armament: - 2 x 16 ESS SAM (32 missiles) - 2 x 21 RAM SAM (42 missiles) - 2 x 20mm CIWS Phalynx - 4 x .50 cal MG Elevators: 3 Catapaults: 4 Ships in class: 2 building, 10 planned CVN-78 USS Gerald R. Ford (Bldng) CVN-79 USS John F. Kennedy (Bldng) The new CVN21 aircraft carrier class has been designated the USS Gerald R. Ford class, and the first of class will be CVN-78, USS Gerald R. Ford. The second in class will be CVN-79, USS John F. Kennedy. It is expected that ultimately 9-10 of the class will be built, replacing the US Nimitz class carriers one for one evey 5-6 yearss. They will be the largest warships ever built. They will be the mainstay of the US Navy's power projection and sea lane protetction capabilities throughout the 21st century. 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 9-10 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 Ford Class. Initial steel cutting for the USS Gerald R. Ford was accomplished in August of 2005. The keel laying occurred in late 2009 and the vessel is expected to be launched in 2013 and commissioned in 2015. CVN-78 will replace the USS Enterprise, CVN-65, America's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier. First steel for the second in class, USS John F. Kennedy, CVN-79, was completed in February of 2011. They are being built by Newport News Shipbuilding, which built the USS Enterprise, and all ten Nimitz class carreirs. Among the innovations that the Ford class carriers will introduce 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. With these innovations, and the many others that will be developed into the new carrier, the US Navy is making a direct statement that its 21st century, next-generation carrier fleet will continue to have as its centerpiece large-deck, nuclear-powered vessels that can project power and protect sea lanes anywhere in the world, at any time. SPECIAL NOTE: PETITION DRIVE to name the 3rd Ford Class Nuclear Carrier, CVN-80 as the USS Enterprise	USS Gerald R. Ford under construction, late 2011 Ist Steel Cut of CVN-78 (2005) and CVN-79 (2011)

Last Update: 29-Nov-2011

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Jeff Head is an engineering consultant with many years experience in the power, defense, and computer industries. He currently works for the federal government helping maintain and protect regional infrastructure. He is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and is also the author of a self-published and best-selling series of military techno-thrillers called the Dragon's Fury that projects a fictional third world war arising out of current events. You can learn more about that series by clicking on the pictures of the novel covers below:

THE DRAGON'S FURY SERIES

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