Gerald R. Ford Class CVN

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Commissioning Ceremony
President Donald J. Trump commissioned the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., July 22, 2017. CVN-78 is the lead ship of the new Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carrier, the first new class in more than 40 years and begins the phased replacement of Nimitz-class carriers. (U.S. Navy video/Released)
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Video:
https://youtu.be/8dDIr1ng9lU
Code: 
https://youtu.be/8dDIr1ng9lU
 
EMALS software adjustment eliminates g-load problems on external fuel tanks.

"A total of 71 EMALS launches were conducted by the EMALS Team and the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 to confirm F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler outfitted with wing-mounted, 480-gallon external fuel tanks (EFTs) can launch without exceeding stress limits on the aircraft."

http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NavairNewsStory&id=6596
 
Well so much for that "oh noes it's the end of everything!" problem. Well done to the software team getting it worked out, on to the next problem.
 
Moose said:
Well so much for that "oh noes it's the end of everything!" problem. Well done to the software team getting it worked out, on to the next problem.
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Yep. Hasn't stopped the Chicken Littles from running around, "oh, nos the Ford was way, WAY too many steps forward" and wringing their panties about "risk" though. They'd have had us build more Nimitzs until the end of time.
 
In a related story after much boasting about how their EMAL technology was equal to whatever America was fielding on the Ford Class of carriers, the Chinese had to face reality and quietly drop back to steam cats.

http://en.yibada.com/articles/193745/20170212/china-s-third-aircraft-carrier-will-first-use-steam-catapults.htm
 
VH said:
In a related story after much boasting about how their EMAL technology was equal to whatever America was fielding on the Ford Class of carriers, the Chinese had to face reality and quietly drop back to steam cats.

http://en.yibada.com/articles/193745/20170212/china-s-third-aircraft-carrier-will-first-use-steam-catapults.htm
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That will be interesting as they've never built those either IIRC. And it wasn't exactly a cake walk for the USSR either.
 
sferrin said:
Moose said:
Well so much for that "oh noes it's the end of everything!" problem. Well done to the software team getting it worked out, on to the next problem.
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Yep. Hasn't stopped the Chicken Littles from running around, "oh, nos the Ford was way, WAY too many steps forward" and wringing their panties about "risk" though. They'd have had us build more Nimitzs until the end of time.
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Just add another $2.5 billion to the cost and another three years to the schedule during a period of sequestration.
 
Considering some of the unusual alternative configurations examined earlier in the program I am also unimpressed by all of the hand-wringing over all of the risk involved in CVN-78.
 
If you have a reference available regarding the "unusual alternative configurations examined" for aircraft to be launched from Ford class carriers could you share them so that we all might gain better understanding of how EMALs was selected. Thanks in advance.
 
VH said:
If you have a reference available regarding the "unusual alternative configurations examined" for aircraft to be launched from Ford class carriers could you share them so that we all might gain better understanding of how EMALs was selected. Thanks in advance.
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"CVN-77, CVX, and CVN-21 Design Studies"
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,809.0.html
 
VH said:
If you have a reference available regarding the "unusual alternative configurations examined" for aircraft to be launched from Ford class carriers could you share them so that we all might gain better understanding of how EMALs was selected. Thanks in advance.
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He wasn't speaking of EMALS specifically but the class in general. Ford is actually quite tame compared to some configurations considered.
 
VH said:
In a related story after much boasting about how their EMAL technology was equal to whatever America was fielding on the Ford Class of carriers, the Chinese had to face reality and quietly drop back to steam cats.

http://en.yibada.com/articles/193745/20170212/china-s-third-aircraft-carrier-will-first-use-steam-catapults.htm
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Until they can "acquire" it.
 
CVN-78 accomplished something ÷ of schedule :
https://news.usni.org/2017/07/28/video-uss-gerald-r-ford-conducts-first-arrested-landing-catapult-launch
 
Moose said:
CVN-78 accomplished something ÷ of schedule :
https://news.usni.org/2017/07/28/video-uss-gerald-r-ford-conducts-first-arrested-landing-catapult-launch
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https://youtu.be/5Xo5qy_dfGM
 
fredymac said:
Moose said:
CVN-78 accomplished something ÷ of schedule :
https://news.usni.org/2017/07/28/video-uss-gerald-r-ford-conducts-first-arrested-landing-catapult-launch
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https://youtu.be/5Xo5qy_dfGM
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The launch looks like a smoother acceleration, easier on the airframe?
 
Man, it's so weird to see a cat shot without the clouds of steam. Looks good though.

Bobby Mike, yes, the EMALS acceleration profile is supposed to be easier on the plane than steam. Less jerk at the beginning and more steady pull through the whole stroke. (Wow, that doesn't sound right...)
 
"The South China Morning Post reports that China will not adopt highly advanced electromagnetic take-off technology on its second domestically built aircraft carrier but instead rely on a conventional steam system, naval experts say."

China just discovered that they had written a check that their mouth couldn't cash.
 
VH said:
"The South China Morning Post reports that China will not adopt highly advanced electromagnetic take-off technology on its second domestically built aircraft carrier but instead rely on a conventional steam system, naval experts say."

China just discovered that they had written a check that their mouth couldn't cash.
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GA probably tightened up their IT dept. ;)
 
VH said:
"The South China Morning Post reports that China will not adopt highly advanced electromagnetic take-off technology on its second domestically built aircraft carrier but instead rely on a conventional steam system, naval experts say."

China just discovered that they had written a check that their mouth couldn't cash.
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Their railgun program also seems to be far further from producing a weapon than some blogs would have us believe.
 
This documentary on EMALS dates back to when they were just getting the land based demonstrator up and running but I don't think anyone has posted it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOJ9PSEqZy8
 
More flight ops testing and crew training.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eesMSJ4J4Oo
 
https://breakingdefense.com/2018/02/lets-get-digital-hondo-geurts-wants-ships-for-less/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=60570392&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--EyzoT96hT5Zbq6Yz0QW76xJv0TMvxt23KDTBH10UXftdp6wik05BKz7Ra9IYXPIuvWZo3KYbM5Ks8OYxA8aJcZK2b1Q&_hsmi=60570392
 
Nimitz Class vs Gerald R Ford Class - How Do The Aircraft Carriers Compare?

Published on Jul 12, 2017

Gerald R Ford Class is US Militaries brand new Aircraft Carrier. It will slowly replace the aging Nimitz Class. But how do the two aircraft carriers compare? Lets find out in this episode of The Infographics Show: Nimitz Class vs Gerald R Ford Class

https://youtu.be/k4Ia8ps3uBA
 
Couldn't help but notice that the image is reversed on the screen shot. Hope the rest of the presentation is a little more accurate.
 
Another video on JPALS from Raytheon. Apparently they are pitching the system for use on land as well as to assist in air drops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHwWSejdVGw
 
https://news.usni.org/2018/04/16/newport-news-save-1-6-billion-maintain-stable-workforce-25000-2-proposed-carrier-buy

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — If the Navy decides to buy aircraft carriers CVN-80 and 81 together, Newport News Shipbuilding will be able to maintain a steady workload that supports between 23,000 and 25,000 workers at the Virginia yard for the next decade or so, the shipyard president told reporters last week.

Part of the appeal of buying the two carriers together is that the Navy would also buy them a bit closer together: the ships would be centered about three-and-a-half or four years apart, instead of the five-year centers for recent carrier acquisition, Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin told reporters.

Boykin said the closer ship construction centers would allow her to avoid a “labor valley” where the workforce levels would dip down after one ship and then have to come back up, which is disruptive for employees and costly for the company.
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bobbymike said:
https://news.usni.org/2018/04/16/newport-news-save-1-6-billion-maintain-stable-workforce-25000-2-proposed-carrier-buy

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — If the Navy decides to buy aircraft carriers CVN-80 and 81 together, Newport News Shipbuilding will be able to maintain a steady workload that supports between 23,000 and 25,000 workers at the Virginia yard for the next decade or so, the shipyard president told reporters last week.

Part of the appeal of buying the two carriers together is that the Navy would also buy them a bit closer together: the ships would be centered about three-and-a-half or four years apart, instead of the five-year centers for recent carrier acquisition, Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin told reporters.

Boykin said the closer ship construction centers would allow her to avoid a “labor valley” where the workforce levels would dip down after one ship and then have to come back up, which is disruptive for employees and costly for the company.
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And ALWAYS results in more required rework/repair.
 
sferrin said:
bobbymike said:
https://news.usni.org/2018/04/16/newport-news-save-1-6-billion-maintain-stable-workforce-25000-2-proposed-carrier-buy

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — If the Navy decides to buy aircraft carriers CVN-80 and 81 together, Newport News Shipbuilding will be able to maintain a steady workload that supports between 23,000 and 25,000 workers at the Virginia yard for the next decade or so, the shipyard president told reporters last week.

Part of the appeal of buying the two carriers together is that the Navy would also buy them a bit closer together: the ships would be centered about three-and-a-half or four years apart, instead of the five-year centers for recent carrier acquisition, Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin told reporters.

Boykin said the closer ship construction centers would allow her to avoid a “labor valley” where the workforce levels would dip down after one ship and then have to come back up, which is disruptive for employees and costly for the company.
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And ALWAYS results in more required rework/repair.
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Agreed. One only has to look at the success of the Virginia-class program as an example.

Perhaps sustaining this workforce of skilled labor will assist in maintenance backlogs as well by creating a greater depth of the talent pool.
 
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/05/03/heres-the-latest-on-americas-next-supercarriers/?utm_campaign=Socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

WASHINGTON ― The future Ford-class aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy is nearing the halfway mark, the head of Huntington Ingalls said Thursday.

In a conference call with investors, Ingalls chief executive Mike Petters said the Kennedy, being built in Newport News Shipbuilding, was tracking to launch ahead of schedule.

“At Newport News, CVN 79 Kennedy is approximately 75 percent structurally complete and 43 percent complete overall,” Petters said. “The team continues to produce results that are in line with our expectations and is pushing to accelerate launch by three months to the fourth quarter of 2019.

Ingalls responded to the U.S. Navy this week to a March request for proposals feeling out a two-carrier block buy for the future carriers Enterprise and the still-to-be-named CVN 81, Petters said.
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Review of EMALS/AAG development.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-auMObe7qw
 
EMALS and AAG reliability tests.

Navy’s newest carrier-based catapult, trap systems steadily advance through test
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http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=6889

“Data from shipboard testing indicates that both EMALS and AAG have demonstrated improved reliability projections over the solely land-based testing,” said Capt. Steve Tedford, former Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (PMA 251) program manager....

...The dedicated EMALS and AAG teams have excelled in overcoming numerous challenges and will continue charging ahead, completing these concurrent test programs, continually increasing confidence in these technologies and getting both systems mission ready,” said Tedford."
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SASC Chair James Inhofe (R-OK) says he's "not yet opposed" to the two-carrier block buy.

However, he has spoken to Defense Secretary James Mattis about his concerns. The 2019 defense authorization bill puts the decision on a two-carrier purchase in Mattis' hands.

Supporters say the bulk buy will create economies of scale and save at least $2.5 billion. It would also shore up smaller defense contractors that supply HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division with parts and services.
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Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, is succeeding the late John McCain as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. His assessment on a proposed two-carrier buy came after a visit to the HII shipyard at Newport News on Dec. 3.

His visit and subsequent comments were first reported by Bloomberg.

The new weapons elevators are designed to move bombs faster from lower decks up to the flight deck. That will increase the number of sorties aircraft can fly and contribute to the ship's overall punch in combat.

Inhofe said he would continue to track progress on the elevators. "Until these elevators work, we only have 10 operational aircraft carriers despite a requirement for 12," he said in the email.
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I can't imaging them NOT doing it (since it will save a ton of money). This is sounds more like lighting a fire for them to get the kinks worked out.
 
Courtney: Navy to purchase CVN-80, CVN-81 in dual-buy format, saving $4 billion


After several years of planning and discussions, the Defense Department notified Congress today that it would pursue a two-ship buy of the third and fourth Gerald Ford-class aircraft carriers, a move that will save an estimated $4 billion, a congressman overseeing Navy shipbuilding told Inside Defense.

That is $1.5 billion more than what Navy officials previously projected the service could save by purchasing the Enterprise (CVN-80) and the unnamed CVN-81 in a dual-buy format.

House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee Ranking Member Joe Courtney (D-CT) said the notification was sent today by Pentagon acquisition executive Ellen Lord. He said if the Navy were to purchase each ship separately, the service would spend $28 billion. The cost of both ships purchased in the planned two-ship buy format will be $24 billion, Courtney said........
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German documentary on USS Ford but no English subtitles. As always, subject to disappearance due to copyright.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16JWN02Zedw
 

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