He USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the most advanced aircraft carrier and recent member of the United States Navy, has completed his mission in European waters and returned to port. This innovative nuclear aircraft carrier, leader of a new class of ships, is intended to gradually replace the Nimitz class over the coming decades.
Although it shares certain design fundamentals with its predecessor, The Ford stands out because it is larger and includes numerous improvements making it the most outstanding aircraft carrier in active service. Below are the most notable features of the Ford-class aircraft carriers.
The CVN-78 has the honor of being the world’s first aircraft carrier equipped with an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS).. This system represents a significant advance over the traditional steam catapults used on Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. The benefits of EMALS include refined takeoff speed control, allowing smoother acceleration at both high and low speeds.
Aside from that, EMALS has the necessary energy capacity to support longer range of launch operations that adapt to both the lightest unmanned aerial vehicles and the heaviest combat aircraft.
The implementation of EMALS is possible thanks to the two nuclear reactors Improved A1Bs, a cornerstone of aircraft carrier technology. In addition to powering systems such as the electromagnetic catapult and multifunction radar, these reactors also have the potential to support future naval defenses, including directed energy weapons (DEW) and other advanced systems.
Although information about his performance is confidential, it is believed that this is the case The thermal power of each A1B reactor reaches about 700 MWthwhich represents a 25% increase over the power produced by the A4W reactors on the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.
The EMALS system on the USS Gerald R. Ford provides a more effective acceleration for aircraft takeoffThis greatly improves the speed at which they can be launched into the sky.
Parallel to, The Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system gives Ford-class ships superior capabilities to recover aircraft equipped with tail hooks. This technology is compatible with both current aircraft and future designs.
He AAG, successor to the Nimitz-class Mark 7 system, expands the range of aircraft that can be recovered and, thanks to its advanced controls, minimizes aircraft fatigue during recovery. Its architecture includes integrated technologies for diagnostics and testing, making maintenance easier.
The AAG is also characterized by the fact that it requires less maintenance and personnel to operate compared to previous systems. This contributes to an increase in aircraft departure frequencies. This system is also characterized by lower energy consumption and reduction in the gross weight of the aircraft carrier.
The Ford class introduces innovations in ammunition handling designed to optimize the transport of modern weapons. Advanced Weapons Elevators (AWE) integrate state-of-the-art technologiesB. electromagnetic motors and hydraulic systems that allow fewer sailors to safely and effectively transport artillery from weapons stores to the flight deck.
This modernization represents a significant improvement in speed and agility when handling weapons.. The Ford class was designed to replace work with technologya in numerous missions, resulting in a reduction in crew size of up to 20%.
This reduced reliance on staff not only optimizes operations but also enables the implementation of significant improvements on the quality of life on board.
Sailors on the USS Gerald R. Ford benefit from improved berthsmore comprehensive sports facilities and ergonomically designed work areas, all contributing to a more comfortable and efficient environment for crew.