update on CVN 78 construction

[Mr Quatro]

USS Ford CVN 78 is in the process of becoming the best CVN ever to sail the seas. I'll keep you informed the best I can.


a major milestone on the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) today as the ship’s crew moved aboard and ate its first meal prepared in the galley. The first-in-class carrier is in the final stages of construction and testing
The USN sure knows how to feed it's new crew: http://www.en.portnews.ru/news/204213/


The ship’s Sponsor Susan Ford Bales helped serve a meal of prime rib, crab legs, shrimp, salmon and a 7-foot-long cake made to look like an aircraft carrier. The galley and associated messing areas were redesigned for Gerald R. Ford and future Ford-class carriers, offering a new layout that provides more space and greater efficiency for sailors as they prepare for meals.
The serving lines and messing areas are arranged to offer significant quality-of-life improvements compared to Nimitz-class carriers.

[em2nought]

The ten or so "special" meals over a six year career always felt like "they" considered it pearls before swine. Of the services, I believe the USN treats it's enlisted the worst.

[Commander Wallace]

Very Impressive vessel slated to replace the Iconic carrier U.S.S Enterprise which has the distinction of being the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

There are debates that are ongoing as to how viable carriers are in the 21 century in light of the growing sophistication of anti ship weapons and submarine technology.

[Mr Quatro]

Maybe next year, uh? Looking forward to this being the best one yet and the first of her class too :yep:

I like this DOD buzz web site ...
http://www.dodbuzz.com/2016/07/25/navy-hints-at-possible-further-delay-to-new-aircraft-carrier/


POSTED BY: BRENDAN MCGARRY JULY 25, 2016
The U.S. Navy still plans to receive its most expensive warship in November, but has acknowledged that date “may need to be revised” if additional testing issues surface, a spokeswoman said Monday.

A couple of weeks ago, the service said the new $13 billion Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier (CVN 78) would be delayed by two months to November due to “first of class” problems, without elaborating. The ship is already two years behind schedule and more than $2 billion over budget.

A Bloomberg News article last week by Tony Capaccio cited a June 28 memo from the Pentagon’s top weapons tester, J. Michael Gilmore, to its chief weapons buyer, Frank Kendall, that concluded the ship isn’t ready for combat operations because of problems with systems to launch and recover aircraft, defend against aircraft and missiles, and move bombs and munitions.

As a result, the delivery date may slip into 2017, CNN’s Zachary Cohen reported on Monday.

[l02turner]

I worked at the Newport News Shipbuilding & drydock Co for several years after finishing high school. Theu seemed to lay me off in a Reduction in Force every 5 years or so then they'd hire me back in a month or 2.. Had enough of that and went elsewhere. Anyway, the NNS&DD has the distinction of being the only shipyard in the US wiith the facilities to build nuclear AC carriers, mostly due to the massive drydocks. The yard is now owned by another co and its name was changed to N Shipyard. It was a great place to work except for the low wages (and layoffs) but the feeling of being part of something big and important was hard to ignore. I worked on the USS Kennedy, several merchant ships, Missle Frigates and a Trident Sub in submarine nuclear design. Most of my time was working as a planner in the Nuclear Constr dept.
Man! Those carriers are HUGE! It was super easy to get lost and the distance between the arear where I was working and the pier was LONG! So we made a habit of going in early and staying til quiting time. The "new" guys were usually sent to the tool shack on the pier for blasting powder and a stud grinder as an initiation. ;-) We were a oretty tame bunch. The Big E will really be missed!

[Mr Quatro]

Update November 2016

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/12-9b-4-5-acres-navys-next-generation-aircraft-carrier/


NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — The Navy refers to its newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, as “4.5 acres of sovereign U.S. territory.” The $12.9 billion warship — the first of the Navy’s next generation of aircraft carriers — is in the final stages of construction after cost overruns and a delay of more than one year.

This carrier and those that will follow, including the USS John F. Kennedy and the USS Enterprise, will replace the Nimitz-class carriers, which were first commissioned in 1975. Construction on the Ford started in 2009 and on the Kennedy in 2015. Construction is scheduled to start on the Enterprise in 2018, but that could be pushed back.

The Ford — sitting now at Newport News Shipbuilding, the giant Navy contractor in Virginia — will house about 2,600 sailors, 600 fewer than the Nimitz-class carriers. The Navy says that will save more than $4 billion over the ship’s 50-year lifespan. The air wing to support the Ford could add more personnel to the ship, which is designed to house more than 4,600 crew members.

The Navy had hoped to begin testing the Ford’s systems and equipment during sea trials this fall. But those tests and a delivery date have been delayed as work continues on some of the vessel’s new technology, such as its power generation system, aircraft landing equipment and advanced weapons elevators.

[mapuc]

If I remember correctly these new carrier will have the new catapult system installed. Something with electricity or was it more like maglev.

Markus

[Mr Quatro]

It's called (EMALS) Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch system:http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/18/navy-magnetic-launch-system-hurls-4-ton-cart-uss-/

The U.S. Navy’s new Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is so powerful that it can skip a 4-ton cart across the water like a pebble.
The new system, which uses technology similar to a rail gun, was tested in Newport News, Virginia, on Wednesday. A YouTube video uploaded by the U.S. Navy shows crewmembers of the USS Gerald Ford cheer as a test sled soars off the deck and into the ocean.

[Mr Quatro]

http://thediplomat.com/2017/01/us-navy-to-receive-new-13-billion-aircraft-carrier-in-april-maybe/

US Navy to Receive New $13 Billion Aircraft Carrier in April (Maybe)

The U.S. Navy has announced that the lead vessel of its new class of supercarriers, the nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), will likely be delivered in April.

According to a U.S. Navy statement from January 12, the ship’s schedule foresees an April 2017 delivery date, pending the results of sea trials. “Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is 99 percent overall complete with 93 percent of the test program complete (93 percent Hull, Mechanical & Electrical, 92 percent propulsion testing, and 93 percent electronics testing),” the statement reads.

[Mr Quatro]

It won't be long now ... I bet the sailors down below can't even tell the difference of being pier side or at sea, due to being so big.

http://thediplomat.com/2017/04/us-navys-new-supercarrier-will-take-to-sea-this-week/

The U.S. Navy’s long-delayed nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) will take to the sea for builder’s trials this week, the commander of U.S. Naval Systems Command, Vice Admiral Tom Moore, said on April 3, according to USNI News.

The carrier is slated to depart Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Newport News, Virginia tomorrow, weather permitting. The USS Gerald R. Ford remains moored pier-side as of today.

[Delgard]

I was on the Midway back in the day and there was a two-lane bowling alley. Surprised the heck of me since I was not in the Navy, but the Captain wanted one, so he got one.

[Mr Quatro]

The USS Ford is now all ours ... at 12.9 billion dollars I hope it's still under warranty.

Construction of the Ford was supposed to finish by September 2015. The $12.9 billion ship was initially supposed to cost $10.5 billion.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/navy-gets-ford-12-9-billion-aircraft-carrier-154746036.html

FOLK, Va. (AP) — The first of a new class of aircraft carriers has been officially delivered to the U.S. Navy after more than a year of delays, cost overruns and technological glitches that drew criticism from President Donald Trump.

The Navy said Thursday that the USS Gerald R. Ford will now go through various workups at sea before becoming operational in 2020. The Navy plans to build at least two more Ford-Class carriers, according to the Congressional Research Service.

[Mr Quatro]

She's in the Navy now: https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/07/22/Watch-live-Trump-speaks-Navy-commissions-USS-Gerald-R-Ford/1761500647172/

July 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy is commissioning the new aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford into service today at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.

President Donald J. Trump will deliver the ceremony's principal address on Saturday's commissioning ceremony. A White House live stream will start at 10:10 a.m.

"The nation's going to be very proud of USS Gerald R. Ford,"

"This Saturday will be a huge day for our Navy and our nation. The new technology and war fighting capabilities that Ford brings will transform naval warfare, making us a more lethal Navy".

[em2nought]

She's in the Navy now: https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/07/22/Watch-live-Trump-speaks-Navy-commissions-USS-Gerald-R-Ford/1761500647172/

President Donald J. Trump will deliver the ceremony's principal address on Saturday's commissioning ceremony. A White House live stream will start at 10:10 a.m.

Trump should have walked up there and said I don't like the name lets rename her Enterprise, and don't ever let me catch you trying to name one "Donald J. Trump". :03:

[Mr Quatro]

Probably will be tested in a war someday ... glad it works :yep:

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, successfully launched and landed an aircraft with advanced digital, magnetic technolgy, which replaces the older steam-driven catapult system.

The succesful missions Friday came less than a week after President Trump commissioned the nearly $13 billion ship in Virginia.

"Today, USS Gerald R. Ford made history," said Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces. "Great work by the Ford team and all the engineers who have worked hard to get the ship ready for this milestone."

Trump suggested last spring that the Navy continue to use the steam-based catapult system to launch and snag aircraft on and off ships’ flight decks, amid the contiuned concerns about the cost to complete the USS Ford.

Prior to Friday’s missions, the new technology had been successfully tested ashore at Lakehurst, N.J., according to the Navy.

“This is the first shipboard recovery and launch of a fleet fixed wing aircraft,” said Capt. Rick McCormack, Ford’s commanding officer.

The aircraft used was A-18F Superhornet fighter jets, based at the naval base at Patuxent River, Md.

[em2nought]

"tested ashore at Lakehurst, N.J." Well if something was going to go wrong with the catapult, that's definitely the place for it to happen i guess. :03:
http://www.nytimes.com/images/blogs/laughlines/thehugemanatee.jpg

[Mr Quatro]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISAwB3yyj84

[GSpector]

The one I am most interested in them building is CVN-80 (Enterprise). Of all the ships in Navy history, I'm sure that name has the longest and most distinguished history. Used on sailing Ships as far back as the war of 1812 to one of the 1st Aircraft Carriers in WWII (CV-6), all the way to the 1st Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier (CVN-65), even Goodyear Tires made a "Blimp" for the US Navy to use to guard the West Coast during WWII. In total, I believe the US Navy has had 6 vessels with that name at 1 point or another.

I'll not get into the many uses in Star Trek :03:

[Mr Quatro]

http://nationalinterest.org/files/styles/main_image_on_posts/public/main_images/ford_0.jpg?itok=wxE1kS2m

She's still not ready yet :o

The Navy's New $13 Billion Aircraft Carrier Has Some Serious Problems

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-navys-new-13-billion-aircraft-carrier-has-some-serious-24520

The DoD’s intensive assessment of the Ford, conducted by the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation and published last month, along with its other 2017 technical analyses, reveals “poor or unknown reliability” among many of the Ford’s essential systems, including newly designed catapults, arresting gear, weapons elevators, and radar.”

These systems aren’t just high-profile (see: that steamless catapult) but critical for the vessel’s roles in counterterrorism and great-power deterrence. “[The limitations] could affect the ability of CVN 78 to generate sorties, make the ship more vulnerable to attack, or create limitations during routine operations,” the report states. “The poor or unknown reliability of these critical subsystems is the most significant risk to CVN 78.”

[GSpector]

I just hope they solve all the problems by the time they get CVN-80 (Enterprise) ready and I'll be happy.
:up:

[Mr Quatro]

They sure do have a lot of people walking around on the fight deck of the USS Ford (CVN 78) including girls:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3hB9RO8a4Q

[em2nought]

Hmm, where are all the F-35s in that video? Even with all the Ford's hiccups it might be ready before it's F-35s are. :03:

[Mr Quatro]

USS Ford (CVN-78) still not ready "Perhaps at the 75% level"


https://s2.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/c.NnmO97l7g1kheZu2NboA--/YXBwaWQ9eW15O3c9NjQwO3E9NzU7c209MQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_national_interest_705/97b8f49649336832cf7ada64450d9d17

https://www.yahoo.com/news/13-billion-barge-u-navy-062000966.html

The U.S. Navy’s new aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford might not be able to deploy until 2024. That’s years later than the Navy originally expected. The delay could further inhibit the ability of the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet to deploy carriers.

The nuclear-powered Ford, which cost no less than $13 billion to build, has been undergoing trials off the U.S. east coast since commissioning in 2017.

The Ford class, in theory, represents a major improvement over the previous Nimitz-class supercarriers. The Navy so has ordered four Fords. Lead vessel Ford was supposed to deploy for the first time in 2022.

The Fords are bigger than the Nimitzs are, boast superior sensors and a more efficient deck layout and feature precise electromagnetic catapults rather than the maintenance-intensive steam catapults that the Nimitzs have.

[Mr Quatro]

Here comes CVN-79 John F. Kennedy

Next month, additional tests will take place prior to Kennedy’s christening on Dec. 7

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Oct. 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) today began flooding the dry dock at its Newport News Shipbuilding division where the keel of aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) was laid in 2015.

The controlled process of slowly filling the dry dock with more than 100 million gallons of water takes place over several days, and marks the first time the ship has been in water.

“The flooding of the dry dock is truly a historic event in the construction of the ship and a special moment for the men and women who have worked to get the ship to the point,” said Mike Butler, program director for Kennedy. “We have made remarkable progress with Kennedy’s construction, and are pleased to get to this phase of construction three months ahead of the original schedule and fewer man hours. We look forward to the upcoming christening and launch as we prepare to start our testing program.”





A video and photos of the dry dock flooding are available at: https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/dry-dock-flooded-aircraft-carrier-jfk-cvn79.

[Jimbuna]

Kennedy’s christening on Dec. 7

Is that so it coincides with Pearl Harbour?

[Mr Quatro]

https://www.dailypress.com/resizer/yj6Fn2769S6hRx3sSL6YJasnpkU=/800x800/top/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/ZUVQROU5BZGEFAXG7IR3YFG5DQ.jpg

https://www.dailypress.com/military/dp-nw-aircraft-carrier-kennedy-seal-20191107-fpjp67zny5cj5avmkd2ihyuh3y-story.html

The official seal for the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy has been unveiled, and at first glance the design is clean and simple.

An iconic image of the young president rises larger than life above the ship that will bear his name. The ship’s motto, Serve With Courage, runs below.

But a closer look reveals attention to detail that is the work of Capt. Todd Marzano, the ship’s commanding officer, and others. Marzano and crew took the wraps off the seal this week.

The 35 five stars along the outer ring represent Kennedy as the nation’s 35th president. One of those stars is after his middle initial. Two other stars are between CVN and 79, as the Kennedy is also known.

Why two? Because CVN-79 is the second aircraft carrier named for the late president, the first being CV-67, the nation’s last conventionally powered flattop.

[Mr Quatro]

The USS Ford CVN-78 will likely not deploy until 2023.


https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/07/23/the-us-navy-is-making-progress-on-the-carrier-fords-bedeviling-weapons-elevators/


The U.S. Navy is over the halfway mark in certifying the new aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford’s 11 advanced weapons elevators, which have been at the center of an ongoing controversy over delays in getting the Navy’s most expensive-ever warship ready for its first deployment.


The elevators are designed to reduce the time it takes to get bombs armed and to the flight deck to mount on aircraft.



the USS Ford was packed with at least 23 new technologies. Those included a complete redesign of the systems used to arm, launch and recover the ship’s aircraft.

All those systems have, in their turn, caused delays in getting the Navy’s most expensive-ever warship to the fleet, which was originally to have deployed in 2018, but now will likely not deploy until 2023. The Ford cost the Navy roughly $13.3 billion, according to the latest Congressional Research Service report on the topic.

[Gerald]

https://i.imgur.com/kb1olRq.jpg

The US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) has concluded its 11th independent steaming event (ISE 11).

The vessel is currently more than midway through its post-delivery test and trials (PDT&T) phase of operations.

During ISE 11, USS Ford achieved multiple PDT&T milestones intended to exercise installed systems and carry out crew training.

The vessel qualified 19 pilots assigned to the Gladiators of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 and 21 pilots assigned to the Greyhawks of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 120, bringing the total number of catapult launches and arrested landings to 3,975.
A test of the SLQ-32 electronic support system was conducted by USS Ford’s intelligence department to measure sensor accuracy while operating adjacent to the Shipboard Electronic Systems Evaluation Facility range (SESEF).

https://www.naval-technology.com/news/uss-gerald-r-ford-concludes-11th-independent-steaming-event/

What a beauty! :ping:

[Platapus]

Wow, those new stealth fighters are pretty hard to see.

[Mr Quatro]

It's okay Vendor you didn't know, but I've been reporting on the Ford for five years now :yep:

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=221764

USS Ford CVN 78 is in the process of becoming the best CVN ever to sail the seas. I'll keep you informed the best I can.

[Jimbuna]

Wow, those new stealth fighters are pretty hard to see.

:)

Threads merged.