THE 21ST CENTURY CARRIER

GER ALD R. FORD(CVN 78)

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10,000,000 FEET

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4,000,000 FEET

of installed fiber optic cable

162

1,026

superlifts

tons

performed by1,050-tongantry craneover 3.5 years

HEAVIEST LIFT

www.thefordclass.com

Building an aircraft carrier is a giant task, REQUIRING THOUSANDS OF SKILLED SHIPBUILDERS, GENERATIONS OF EXPERIENCE,AND ENOUGH MATERIAL TO BUILD A SMALL CITY. BUILD A SMALL CITY. Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is not just large; she is the most technologically- advanced warship ever built. SHE IS MORE AUTOMATED, IS EASIER TO MAINTAIN, AND IS ABLE TO LAUNCH MISSIONS FASTER THAN ANY PREVIOUS CARRIER.

CVN 78 IS THE FUTURE OF NAVAL AVIATION, AND THAT FUTURE IS HERE.

increase inelectricalcapacity

A new electrical distribution system with a

250%

Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) replaces steam catapults,

enabling a smoother launch for the airwing of the future.

ELECTROMAGNETIC

NEW REACTOR PLANTSincrease electrical power generation.

REDUCED MANNINGDue to reduced maintenance,the ship and its air wing can operatewith fewer positionsand will save the U.S. Navy

MORE THAN$4 billion over the ship’s 50-year life.

CVN 78 is designed to be ready for the future of naval aviationas the Navy develops the next

generation of manned andunmanned

aircraft.

The lightersoftware-controlledadvanced arresting gearsystem increases the ability to recover smaller aircraft with reduced wear.

ELECTRICWater Heatersreplace steam system.

ExtendedINTERVAL:DRYDOCKING

12 YEARSCVN 78 can go

between dry dock maintenance.

CARGO ELEVATORSnew system reduces manpowerneeded to transport cargo.

INCREASED AC:

INCREASING SPACE FOR FLIGHT DECK OPERATIONS and aircraft maintenance.

and farther aft than on Nimitz-class carriers,

MORE FLIGHT DECK: THE ISLAND

IS SMALLER

EXPANDABLECAPACITY

Ready for future warfare systems,such as high-energy laser

The flow of weapons has been

significantly UPGRADEDto support increasedSORTIE RATE.

WEAPONSFL WFL W

REDUCED BY OVER 1/3FEWER COMPONENTS: number of valves

WEAPONS ELEVATORSnew electromagnetic hoist system replaces cable.

Flexible Infrastructure

IS DESIGNEDCVN78

to quickly adapt interior spaces for

new missions.INCREASEDSORTIE RATE

CVN 78 IS ABLE TO GENERATE

per day thanNimitz-Class

carriers.

25%MORE FLIGHT

MISSIONS (SORTIES)