Ford-Class Carrier: Deadly Defensive Power

For more than 40 years, Nimitz-class aircraft carriers have dominated the seas. However, the world has changed drastically since USS Nimitz (CVN 68) first launched, creating new operational demands for aircraft carriers. It is time for the U.S. Navy’s new Ford-class aircraft carriers, the first of which will launch later this year.

In addition to its devastating offensive combat capabilities, Ford-class aircraft carriers will operate in an environment with multiple layers of sophisticated air and sea defense systems and weapons, making the ship virtually invulnerable to enemy attack.

The first layer of defense is the aircraft carrier’s speed and the vastness of the oceans in which it operates. In a 30-minute period, the carrier may be steered anywhere within a circle measuring 700 square miles. With its new nuclear propulsion, the Ford-class carrier can maneuver at maximum speed — 30+ knots (34.5+ miles per hour) — for weeks. As long as the carrier remains in open ocean, the ability of an adversary to find and target it will be severely limited. In addition, the carrier version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be able to carry a heavier bomb load significantly greater distances, allowing carriers to operate much further out to sea while still accomplishing missions.

The second layer of defense is a very large air, surface and subsurface maritime dominance area created by the Carrier Strike Group in which the carrier operates. This exclusion area is mobile, allowing it to move with the carrier, and is created by the cruisers, destroyers and submarines of the strike group.

The carrier and aircraft from the carrier will be equipped with the world’s most sophisticated air defense systems. The latest version of the carrier-based E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft will provide improved detection sensitivity against threats, and the enhanced electronic warfare capability of the jamming of the F18G Growler will further complicate the enemy’s targeting problem.

Should the first two long-range layers of defense be unsuccessful at protecting the carrier, the carrier itself will be equipped with a powerful and sophisticated self-defense network, including:

Finally the U.S. Navy’s new Ford-class is designed with the most survivable hull of any combatant in the world. The nuclear aircraft carrier is significantly less vulnerable and certainly more survivable than a fixed land base, making it a best-value investment for the national security of our country. With its ability to operate anywhere in the world’s oceans from a sanctuary created by the Carrier Strike Group, policymakers will continue to rely aircraft carriers for prompt, sustainable power projection for the foreseeable future.

(Photo Credit: U.S. Navy)

June 05, 2013
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#U.S. Navy #Ford Class #Weapons #Sea Sparrow Missiles #RAM #Aircraft Carrier #Power


The Battle of Midway, which began on June 4, 1942, proved to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific Theater for America and its allies.

Battle of Midway

Equipped with communications intelligence, the U.S. Pacific Fleet — led by three U.S. Navy aircraft carriers — surprised the Japanese forces and attacked the Japanese fleet. Three U.S. carriers—USS Enterprise, USS Hornet, and USS Yorktown — launched the attack that destroyed four Japanese carriers and most of its best trained naval pilots. After this decisive victory, America and its allies went on the offensive attack with its U.S. Navy carrier fleet, making carrier strength the essence of power in the Pacific.

The fleet engagement between U.S. and Japanese navies near the Central Pacific island of Midway resulted from Japan’s desire to sink the American aircraft carriers that had escaped destruction at Pearl Harbor only six months prior. Using decrypted Japanese radio intercepts, Admiral Chester Nimitz was able to counter Japan’s attack plan and place U.S. carriers in position to ambush the Japanese fleet and defeat it. The legacy of Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz lives on in the lead ship of the Nimitz Class of aircraft carriers, which was commissioned in 1975.

Today the Ford-class carrier marks the advent of a new era of aircraft carriers, the cornerstone of America’s power and strength. Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the lead ship of the Ford-class and will be the premier force projecting power throughout the world. Find out more about the new technology and innovation of the Gerald R. Ford: http://nns.huntingtoningalls.com/products/carriers/ford/cvn78

Learn more about the Battle of Midway: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq81-1.htm

To mark this day in U.S. aircraft carrier history, share this post.

(Sources: U.S. Navy & “The Battle of Midway” directed by John Ford)

June 04, 2013
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#Battle of Midway #U.S. Navy #Aircraft Carriers #World War II


More video from the X-46B testing!

An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator conducts a touch and go landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), marking the first time any unmanned aircraft has completed a touch and go landing at sea. 

May 20, 2013
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#aircraft carrier #george h.w. bush #CVN 77 #Drone #UCAS


ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 14, 2013) An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator flies near the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. (U.S. Navy photo by Erik Hildebrandt/Released)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 14, 2013) An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator flies near the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. (U.S. Navy photo by Erik Hildebrandt/Released)

May 17, 2013
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#U.S. Navy #Drone #historic #test #aircraft carrier #george h.w. bush


History was made Tuesday when the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) completed its first ever carrier-based catapult launch from an aircraft carrier, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), off the coast of Virginia. Bravo Zulu!

May 15, 2013
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#george h.w. bush #CVN 77 #aircraft carrier #drone #test #historic #u.s. navy


Naval aviation history will be made today when an  X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator will be launched from a modern aircraft carrier — USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) — for the first time. Read about the launch at http://navylive.dodlive.mil.

Naval aviation history will be made today when an  X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator will be launched from a modern aircraft carrier — USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) — for the first time.

Read about the launch at http://navylive.dodlive.mil.

May 14, 2013
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#george h.w. bush #CVN 77 #drone #X-47B #UCAS #Historic


Today is the anniversary of the start of the World War II Battle of the Coral Sea. The battle was the first engagement in modern naval history in which opposing warships did not exchange a shot —  all damage was inflicted by carrier aircraft. The battle secured the aircraft carrier’s position as the preeminent weapon on the high seas.

Led by two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, USS Lexington (CV 2) and USS Yorktown (CV 5), the allied carrier forces fought to prevent the Imperial Japanese Navy’s plan to capture Port Moresby, New Guinea and isolate Australia.

The exchange of airstrikes ended a day later, on May 8, 1942. The Battle of the Coral Sea was a strategic victory for the allied forces marking the first time a U.S. fleet turned back a Japanese invading force.

Learn more about the Battle of the Coral Sea: http://bit.ly/15c7mWv

To mark this day in U.S. aircraft carrier history, share this post.

(Photo Credits: National Archives and Naval History & Heritage Command)

May 07, 2013
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#World War II #Battle of the Coral Sea #USS Lexington #USS Yorktown #History #CV 2 #CV 5


On May 3, 1975, the U.S Navy commissioned USS Nimitz (CVN 68) into service at the Norfolk Naval Base. Her commissioning marked the beginning of a new  class of aircraft carriers. President Gerald R. Ford spoke eloquently at the event. In his remarks, Ford declared, “Wherever the United States Ship Nimitz shows her flag, she will be seen as we see her now, a solid symbol of United States strength, United States resolve—made in America and manned by Americans.” For nearly forty years, Nimitz — named for Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz, a five-star admiral during World War II — and her crew have patrolled the globe projecting power and peace. Later this year the U.S. Navy will christen Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the first carrier in the new Ford class, the next generation of aircraft carriers. Its unique engineering and design innovations increase mission effectiveness, reduce workload for sailors and lower operating costs for the U.S. Navy. Learn more about the legacy of the USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Read the full remarks of President Ford’s speech. Celebrate the commissioning of the USS Nimitz by sharing this post. [Photo credit: U.S. Navy]

On May 3, 1975, the U.S Navy commissioned USS Nimitz (CVN 68) into service at the Norfolk Naval Base. Her commissioning marked the beginning of a new  class of aircraft carriers. President Gerald R. Ford spoke eloquently at the event.

In his remarks, Ford declared, “Wherever the United States Ship Nimitz shows her flag, she will be seen as we see her now, a solid symbol of United States strength, United States resolve—made in America and manned by Americans.”

For nearly forty years, Nimitz — named for Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz, a five-star admiral during World War II — and her crew have patrolled the globe projecting power and peace.

Later this year the U.S. Navy will christen Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the first carrier in the new Ford class, the next generation of aircraft carriers. Its unique engineering and design innovations increase mission effectiveness, reduce workload for sailors and lower operating costs for the U.S. Navy.

Learn more about the legacy of the USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

Read the full remarks of President Ford’s speech.

Celebrate the commissioning of the USS Nimitz by sharing this post.

[Photo credit: U.S. Navy]

May 03, 2013
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#USS Nimitz #CVN 68 #Aircraft Carrier #Commissioning #U.S. Navy


Shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding are working night and day to finish the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)  Photo by John Whalen.

Shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding are working night and day to finish the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)  Photo by John Whalen.

April 26, 2013
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#Gerald R. Ford #Newport News Shipbuilding #construction #CVN 78 #Ford Class


On April 18, 1942, 668 nautical miles from Japan, USS Hornet (CV 8) launched the first-ever air attack on the Japanese Home Islands. Led by Col. James H. Doolittle, the mission was the most daring operation yet undertaken by the United States in the young Pacific War and came to be known as the Doolittle Raid. This historic mission, and scores that followed to present day, underscore the vital role of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to rapidly transport large, powerful forces to engage the enemy in any region in the world. USS Hornet was built at Newport News shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, and commissioned six weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Learn more about the USS Hornet from the Naval History and Heritage Command: http://bitly.com/11bjT6m To mark the USS Hornet’s place in history, share this post. (Photo Credit: National Archives and Naval History & Heritage Command)

On April 18, 1942, 668 nautical miles from Japan, USS Hornet (CV 8) launched the first-ever air attack on the Japanese Home Islands. Led by Col. James H. Doolittle, the mission was the most daring operation yet undertaken by the United States in the young Pacific War and came to be known as the Doolittle Raid.

This historic mission, and scores that followed to present day, underscore the vital role of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to rapidly transport large, powerful forces to engage the enemy in any region in the world.

USS Hornet was built at Newport News shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, and commissioned six weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Learn more about the USS Hornet from the Naval History and Heritage Command: http://bitly.com/11bjT6m

To mark the USS Hornet’s place in history, share this post.

(Photo Credit: National Archives and Naval History & Heritage Command)

April 18, 2013
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#Doolittle's Raid #USS Hornet #CV-8 #World War II #Aircraft Carrier #Historic