An artist’s conception of an installed Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) on a U.S. carrier. General Atomics Image
The Navy could consider using a different system to catch incoming aircraft on its next generation of Gerald R. Ford-class (CVN-78) of aircraft carriers after the costs for the General Atomics-built Advanced Arresting Gear have more than doubled, USNI News has learned. Read More
The nominee for the Navy’s number two civilian post told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that she shares its concerns with the cost overruns and delays in the delivery of the Ford–class nuclear aircraft carrier and was “open to all options” in considering alternatives. Read More
The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) floats in the James River in 2013. Newport News Shipbuilding Photo
Sea trials for the first-in-class nuclear carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) could be pushed back up to six to eight weeks due to a slip in the testing schedule, the Navy announced late Tuesday. Read More
An artist’s conception of INS Vikrant. Indian Navy Image
The head of India’s Western Naval Command led a delegation of aircraft carrier designers to meet with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. and visit under-construction carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), according to Indian press reports. Read More
Dead load launched from Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) during EMALS testing. HII Photo
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Navy’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) encountered problems Tuesday morning prior to a round of testing in front of media, but Navy and industry officials say the problem is minor and part of the testing process. Read More
An E/A-18G Growler attached to the Wizards of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) on April 20, 2015. US Navy photo.
The new class of Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) aircraft carriers, with its software-driven Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) and Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), will put so much less stress on aircraft that Navy engineers will be able to think about future aircraft design in a whole new way, the Navy’s director of air warfare told reporters Monday. Read More
The following is a June 5, 2015 U.S. Navy video of dead load tests of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) on carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). Read More
A composite photo illustration representing the Ford-class aircraft carrier, USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79). US Navy Image
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) $4.29 billion in contracts for the planned second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier — John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) — amid promises for improved cost performance for the second carrier’s construction Read More
An artist’s conception of INS Vikrant. Indian Navy Image
The head of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier design and engineering office is set to meet his Indian counterparts later this month to discuss the design of India’s next carrier, he told USNI News last week. Read More
Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the James River during the ship’s launch and transit to Newport News Shipyard pier three for the final stages of construction and testing in November 2013. US Navy photo.
The program executive officer for aircraft carriers told USNI News he is confident the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) will deliver on time despite delays in the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) program. Read More
