US Navy commissions Gerald R Ford
The US Navy has commissioned its newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), at Naval Station Norfolk on 22 July.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the lead ship of the new Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carrier, and will begin the phased replacement of Nimitz class carriers following its commission.
The US Navy plans to build the three ships in the class, also to include the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and USS Enterprise (CVN 80). The vessels are being built with new technologies that are expected to improve operational availability and capability compared with Nimitz class carriers.
Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, new technologies includes a new reactor plant, propulsion system, electric plant, Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, Advanced Arresting Gear, machinery control, Dual Band Radar and integrated warfare systems.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Navantia pitches 64-cell F110 frigate and sets out plans for 75m autonomous vessel]()
Navantia pitches 64-cell F110 frigate and sets out plans for 75m autonomous vessel
With its second F110 frigate launched four months early, the Spanish shipbuilder is courting allied navies with a missile-defence upgrade and a 75m uncrewed vessel.
-
![Chinese maritime militia puts naval surveillance to the test]()
Chinese maritime militia puts naval surveillance to the test
With record deployments in the South China Sea and a newly reported sighting east of Taiwan, China’s maritime militia is putting greater pressure on regional surveillance. How can navies establish what these vessels are doing quickly and reliably enough to respond?
-
![‘Now Europe is a market’: Fincantieri sees new opportunities closer to home]()
‘Now Europe is a market’: Fincantieri sees new opportunities closer to home
Fincantieri naval vessels chief Eugenio Santagata spoke to Shephard about opportunities and how they sit within a portfolio backed by a “strong backlog”, as Euronaval 2026 unfolded.
-
![US Navy weighs “Super Intelligence” role in designing a quieter SSN(X) attack submarine]()
US Navy weighs “Super Intelligence” role in designing a quieter SSN(X) attack submarine
NAVSEA is exploring AI-assisted design for a larger, stealthier submarine with increased weapons capacity and uncrewed-system integration, with lead-boat procurement envisaged from 2040.
-
![ST Engineering makes Euronaval debut with MRV European export campaign]()
ST Engineering makes Euronaval debut with MRV European export campaign
A six-ship home order, agreements with Saab, Naval Group and Babcock and spare yard capacity underpin the group’s first Euronaval bid for smaller European navies.
