The USS Ford aircraft carrier, serial number CVN-78, is the first ship of the U.S. Ford-class aircraft carriers and is the 11th aircraft carrier in service with the U.S. Navy. The USS Ford carrier cost approximately $13 billion, making it the most expensive ship ever built by the U.S. Navy. The ship adopts many high-tech, mainly including integrated electric propulsion, electromagnetic catapult technology, will become the backbone of the U.S. military’s maritime strike force in the 21st century.
According to the U.S. Army’s plan, at least 10 aircraft carriers will be built by 2058, and it will replace the Nimitz class as the most powerful aircraft carrier of the U.S. Army. Its power system uses two A1B nuclear reactors, with a top speed of more than 30 knots and a 60-day at-sea self-sustainability. The USS Ford is the largest displacement and most capable aircraft carrier among all aircraft carriers in service worldwide.
The length of the aircraft carrier USS Ford is 337 meters, the width of the deck is 77 meters, the width of the draft line is 41 meters, the depth of draft is 12 meters, the standard displacement is 101,000 tons, and the full load displacement reaches 112,000 tons. On this type of aircraft carrier, the crew complement reaches 1,150 and the flight brigade 600.
The Ford-class aircraft carriers use the new A1B reactor, which can provide a full quarter of the energy than the nuclear reactor on the Nimitz class, and provide three times the power that the Nimitz class can provide. It is with such powerful electricity that the Ford class can afford a large number of advanced power-consuming equipment. Theoretically, the nuclear reactor used in the Ford-class aircraft carrier will not need to be replaced during its 50-year service life, making the reactor and the warship live together.
The “Ford” currently carries the ship’s fighter, but also the “Super Hornet”, the more advanced F35C is not on board. In fact, in the design plan, the “Ford” is able to carry more than 75 aircraft on board, including 20 F35C, 24 “Super Hornet”, 5 to 7 “Growler “electronic warfare aircraft, five Hawkeye early warning aircraft, 11 to 19 Seahawk helicopters, two to three Fish Hawk tilt-wing transport aircraft, and five to nine MQ-472s. and five to nine MQ-25A unmanned refueling aircraft. Currently, the Super Hornets and Growlers are supposed to be at full strength, with up to 22 Super Hornets seen on the deck of the Ford. Hornets.
The Ford-class carriers with the new Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Interdiction (AAG) system are designed to sustain 160 sorties per day for more than 30 days, with a surge of 270 sorties per day. For comparison purposes, the existing Nimitz class and its steam catapults can sustain 120/240 sorties per day.
The USS Ford, a 40.8-meter-tall behemoth moored at Norfolk Naval Station
Next to the Ford are the USS Bush, USS Truman and USS Lincoln.
From here, you can board the elevator and enter the hangar of the Ford
The huge hangar where the ship’s aircraft are parked when not in use
A statue of former U.S. President Gerald Ford, the carrier’s namesake president, in the hangar. Ford served as chief of navigation on the light carrier USS Monterey in World War II, relying on excellent navigation to save the carrier during a powerful storm
The flight deck of the Ford is 78 meters wide and 333 meters long.
There were no aircraft on the deck, only a “dummy”, an F-18 Hornet with its engines and major components removed, for ground crews to practice operating and moving aircraft on the deck.
This is a liftable integrated ejection control system, jokingly referred to as the cannon gun. After seeing the hand signal from the yellow vest that everything is in order, the ejection officer here activates the electromagnetic catapult and launches the aircraft.
The edge of the flight deck was quite dangerous for both aircraft and personnel, who could accidentally lose their footing and fall into the sea below.
The USS Ford is equipped with the Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missile.
This is a Hiram anti-aircraft missile
The Hiram was used to supplement the gap in anti-aircraft fire from the Sea Sparrow to the dense array.
USS Ford’s island
The island cockpit, powered by two nuclear reactors, gives the Ford a maximum speed of more than 48 kilometers per hour.
The digital main rudder wheel, used to control the carrier’s course and speed. There is a conventional rudder wheel to the rear as a backup.
The nautical chief’s drawing table, although this carrier is fully digital, still requires the use of nautical charts.
A view of the Truman and Lincoln carriers from the bridge.
The Ford’s toilet.
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