US lawmaker monitoring elevator woes on new aircraft carrier
The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has pledged to keep a close eye on US navy efforts to fix the advanced weapons elevators on the first Ford-class aircraft carrier (CVN-78).
Sen James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, said that while the navy told him that technical problems with all 11 elevators would be resolved by September, he has asked the service to give him monthly updates on the issue until the $13 billionUSS Gerald R Ford is fully operational.
Inhofe said he wants to avoid further delays for CVN-78. Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Canada boosts Arctic presence as CCGS Donjek prepares for sea trials this year
CCGS Donjek is currently being prepared to start testing and be handed over to the Canadian Coast Guard in the second half of 2026.
-
HHI poised to start submarine production in Peru pending election outcome
South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries confirmed to Shephard that the company is awaiting the Peruvian government’s decision to allow it to move forward with the production of the HDS-1500 submarine.
-
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
-
“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling
Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.