The ship was not able to serve as a fleet-ready aircraft carrier until December 2021.Īll the new technology and delays have led to the Ford being one of the most expensive ships ever built. The construction of the Ford began in 2009, but production problems delayed commissioning until 2017. Unlike the system on the Nimitz class, the DBR has no rotating antennas, which is supposed to make maintenance easier.Įven the process of getting the Ford built was a challenging task. The innovative radar can operate simultaneously over two frequency ranges. The Ford’s Dual Band Radar (DBR) system has also had reliability issues. Instead, the catapults have repeatedly broken down, casting doubts on the combat effectiveness of one of the ship’s most important systems. The Ford’s electromagnetic catapults are supposed to be capable of launching planes more effectively than older models. Ford?īut the Ford has been beset by a long series of delays as well as issues with new technologies.

Can the Military Save the USS Gerald R.

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