Construction began on 11 August 2005, whenNorthrop Grumman held a ceremonial steel cut for a 15-ton plate that forms part of a side shell unit of the carrier.[18] Thekeel ofGerald R. Ford waslaid down on 13 November 2009.[2] She waschristened on 9 November 2013.[5]Gerald R. Ford enteredthe fleet, replacing the decommissionedUSS Enterprise (CVN-65), which ended her 51 years of active service in December 2012.[19][20] Originally scheduled for delivery in 2015,[21]Gerald R. Ford was delivered to the Navy on 31 May 2017[6] and formally commissioned by PresidentDonald Trump on 22 July 2017.[7][22][23] She departed Naval Station Norfolk on her first deployment on 2 May 2023.[24] As of August 2025[update], she is the world's largest aircraft carrier and the largest warship ever constructed.[25][26]
In 2006, whileGerald Ford was still alive, SenatorJohn Warner ofVirginia proposed to amend a 2007defense-spending bill to declare that CVN-78 "shall be named the USSGerald Ford."[27] The final version, signed by PresidentGeorge W. Bush on 17 October 2006,[28] declared only that it "is the sense of Congress that ... CVN-78 should be named the U.S.S.Gerald R. Ford."[29] Since such "sense of" language is typically non-binding and does not carry the force of law, the Navy was not required to name the ship after Ford.[30]
The USSAmerica Carrier Veterans Association (CVA) had pushed to name the ship USSAmerica. The CVA is an association of sailors who served aboardUSS America (CV-66). The carrier was decommissioned in 1996 and scuttled in 2005 in the Atlantic, as part of a damage test of large-deck aircraft carriers.[34] The name "America" was instead assigned toUSS America (LHA-6), anamphibious assault ship commissioned in 2014.[35][36]
On 10 September 2008, the U.S. Navy signed a $5.1 billion contract withNorthrop Grumman Shipbuilding inNewport News, Virginia, to design and construct the carrier. Northrop had begun advanced construction of the carrier under a $2.7 billion contract in 2005. The carrier was constructed at the Huntington Ingalls (formerly Northrop Grumman)Newport News Shipbuilding facilities in Newport News.[21]
Thekeel of the new warship was ceremoniallylaid on 14 November 2009 in Dry Dock 12 by President Ford's daughter, Susan Ford Bales. In a speech to the assembled shipworkers andDepartment of Defense officials, Bales said: "Dad met the staggering challenges of restoring trust in the presidency and healing the nation's wounds after Watergate in the only way he knew how, with complete honesty and integrity, and that is the legacy we remember this morning."[37]
In August 2011, the carrier was reported to be "structurally halfway complete".[38] In April 2012, construction was said to be 75% complete.[39] On 24 May 2012, the important milestone of completing the vessel up to thewaterline was reached when the critical lower bow was lifted into place.[40] This was the 390th of the nearly 500 lifts of the integral modular components from which the vessel is assembled. Huntington Ingalls reported in an 8 November press release that construction had "reached 87% structural completion".[41] By 19 December 2012, construction had reached 90% structural completion. "Of the nearly 500 total structural lifts needed to complete the ship, 446 have been accomplished."[42]
The island was landed and accompanying ceremony took place on 26 January 2013.[43][44] On 7 May, the last of 162superlifts was put in place, bringing the ship to structural completion.[45][46] On 11 July, atime capsule was welded into a small room just above the floor, continuing a long Navy tradition. The time capsule holds items chosen by Susan Ford Bales, and includessandstone from theWhite House,Navy coins, andaviator wings from the ship's first commanding officer.[47]
The ship was originally scheduled for launch in July 2013 and delivery in 2015.[38] Production delays meant that the launch was delayed until 11 October 2013 and thenaming ceremony until 9 November 2013,[48] with delivery in February 2016.[49]
On 3 October 2013,Gerald R. Ford had four 30-ton, 21 ft (6.4 m)-diameterbronze propellers installed. The installation of the propellers required more than 10 months of work to install the underwater shafting.[50] On 11 October, the ship'sdrydock was flooded for the first time to test various seawater-based systems.[51] Her launch date was set to be on the same day as her naming ceremony on 9 November 2013.[52] On 9 November, the ship waschristened by Susan Ford Bales, with a bottle of Americansparkling wine.[5][53][54] The ship's crest was developed jointly by the ship sponsor and first commanding officer, CaptainJohn F. Meier.[55]
As of 2013, construction costs were estimated at $12.8 billion, 22% over the 2008 budget, plus $4.7 billion in research and development costs. Because of budget difficulties,Chief of Naval Operations AdmiralJonathan Greenert warned there might be a two-year delay beyond 2016 in completingGerald R. Ford.[56] The GAO reported that the price cap would be met by the Navy accepting an incomplete ship for that cost.[57]
On 23 September 2015, the Navy announced that several weeks of testing delays would likely slip the delivery date into April or May 2016. In addition, construction was 93% complete as of September 2015.[58] In July 2016, a memorandum was obtained byCNN fromMichael Gilmore, the US Department of Defense's director ofOperational Testing and Evaluation indicating that problems with four major flight systems would further delay combat readiness of the ship. She was not expected to be delivered until November 2016, and these issues were suggested to further delay that goal. Construction of the ship was described as 98% complete, with 88% of testing finished.[59] A video documentary of the construction was released by Newport News Shipbuilding in 2017.[60]
By March 2018, due to issues with the nuclear propulsion system and munitions elevators, construction costs had reached $13.027 billion, makingGerald R. Ford the most expensive warship ever built. Planned delivery to the Navy was delayed again, by three months, to October 2019.[61][62]
Gerald R. Ford is the first of a class of aircraft carriers intended to offer significant performance improvements over the previousNimitz class.Gerald R. Ford is equipped with anAN/SPY-3 andAN/SPY-4active electronically scanned array multi-function, multi-band radar,[63] with the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) Mk2 Baseline 10 of the Mod 6 variant command and control system.[64] Its island, shorter in length and 20 feet (6.1 m) taller than that of theNimitz class, is set 140 feet (43 m) farther aft and 3 feet (0.91 m) closer to the edge of the ship. Replacing traditionalsteam catapults, theElectromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) will launch all non-VTOL carrier aircraft. This innovation eliminates the traditional requirement to generate and store steam, freeing up considerable area below-deck. With the EMALS,Gerald R. Ford can accomplish 25% more aircraft launches per day than theNimitz class and requires 25% fewer crew members. The Navy estimates it will save $4 billion in operating costs over a 50-year lifespan.[65] According to anAssociated Press story:
"She is truly a technological marvel," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert said in a webcast ceremony at the Newport News, Va., shipyard whereGerald R. Ford is being built, "She will carry unmanned aircraft,joint strike fighters, and she will deploylasers."[66]
These performance enhancements were problematic inPentagon tests, and final software fixes for some of the problems were delayed until after the ship'spost-shakedown availability in 2019.[67][68][69]
Gerald R. Ford undergoing the third and final blast of the shock trials, 8 August 2021
In January 2014, the annual Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) report recorded that critical ship systems in laboratory and test environments (including the EMALS,Advanced Arresting Gear, dual-band radar, and weapons elevators) were not reliable enough and needed more testing and improvements. The Navy implemented a rigorous testing program to ensure performance issues would be resolved before the systems were installed on the aircraft carrier.[citation needed] Major problems with the main turbine generators were found in June 2016.[70] The fix, requiring design changes, was installed and was verified during acceptance trials in May 2017.[71] The Initial Operational Test & Evaluation milestone was achieved in April 2017.[72] On 8 April 2017,Gerald R. Ford got underway under her own power for the first time as she headed to sea for builder's trials.[73] She completed the trials and returned to port atNaval Station Norfolk on 14 April 2017.[74] On 24 May 2017, she departed for acceptancetrials and completed them on 26 May 2017.[75][6]
In 2018, the Navy requested to delay shock trials for at least six years to speed up the ship's deployment, but this request was denied.[76] On 18 June 2021,Gerald R. Ford completed her first full-ship shock trial 87nautical miles (161 km; 100 mi) offPonce Inlet, Florida, to ensure that she is able to withstand battle conditions.[77][78] 40,000 pounds (18 t) of TNT was detonated underwater, measured as a 3.9 magnitude earthquake byUSGS.[79] Additional tests were conducted in July and August, with the test detonations set off closer to the hull. The ship was determined to have passed the tests and this concluded the trials.[80]
On 31 May 2017, Newport News Shipbuilding deliveredGerald R. Ford to the U.S. Navy and her status was changed toSpecial, in service.[6][16]Gerald R. Ford was formally commissioned into the United States Navy on 22 July 2017.[7] On 28 July,Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) performed the first arrested landing and catapult launch fromGerald R. Ford in anF/A-18F Super Hornet.[69][81][82]
According to a GAO report in mid-2020Gerald R. Ford was still reporting significant problems with the operation of her weapons elevators,[83] while a DoD report in early 2021 stated that the ship was still not combat-ready, citing continuing problems with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). Designed to achieve 4,166 aircraft launches between operational mission failures, it instead accomplished only 181.[84][85]
On 20 March 2021,Gerald R. Ford and theItalian aircraft carrier Cavour conducted Ready for Operations (RFO) by theItalian Navy while transiting the Atlantic Ocean.[86] In September 2022, Rear Adm. James Downey described the ship as "fully delivered" and has "met her initial operating capability".[87]
On 3 May 2023,Gerald R. Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk on her first full-length deployment and was scheduled to be operating in the 2nd and 6th Fleet's Area of Responsibility.[95] On 24 May the ship arrived just outsideOslo, Norway, for NATOexercises,[96][97] hosting a visit from Norway'sCrown Prince Haakon.[98] She was scheduled to head towards the Arctic Ocean later for further drills.[99] On 26 June the ship sailed to theMediterranean Sea and arrived atSplit, Croatia, for crew rest.[100] In early October,Gerald R. Ford conducted naval exercises with the Italian navy in the Ionian Sea.[101]
On 8 October 2023, the day after theHamas attack on Israel, the U.S. Secretary of Defense,Lloyd Austin, directed theGerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean "to bolsterregional deterrence efforts." Along with the carrier, the group includes the cruiserNormandy, and the destroyersRamage,Carney,Roosevelt, andThomas Hudner.[102] The U.S. later also sentUSS Dwight D. Eisenhower-ledCarrier Strike Group 2 to the Mediterranean to supplement CSG 12 in the same mission.[103] While the carrier remained in the Mediterranean, several of the escort ships were sent into theRed Sea, where they repeatedly intercepted missiles and drones fired from Yemen.[104]
TheU.S. 6th Fleet announced on 1 January 2024, that theGerald R. Ford CSG 12 would return to Norfolk after being relieved by anAmphibious Ready Group consisting ofUSS Bataan,USS Mesa Verde, andUSS Carter Hall.[104][103] On 17 January,Gerald R. Ford returned to Norfolk after an eight-month deployment. The carrier spent a total of 239 days away from Norfolk, conducted 43underway replenishments, logged more than 10,396 sorties, and sailed more than 83,476 nmi (154,598 km; 96,062 mi).[105]
On 24 June 2025, theGerald R. Ford began deploying from Norfolk, Virginia to the Mediterranean. Prior to the end of theTwelve-Day War betweenIsrael andIran, theFord Carrier Group was expected to reinforce theUSS Carl Vinson and theUSS Nimitz, which would have boosted the US naval deployment in the Middle East to a total of three carrier groups, an unprecedented concentration of US naval power in recent years.[106] TheFord Carrier Group eventually transited theStrait of Gibraltar and arrived in the Mediterranean on 19 July.[107]
On 17 August 2025, theGerald R. Ford transited theStrait of Dover, and moved into theNorth Sea.[108] On 12 September,Gerald R. Ford arrived inOslo, Norway, for a scheduled port visit.[109] Prior to arrival, the carrier and its strike group conducted operations in the North and Norwegian Seas, including joint exercises in the Arctic Circle with the Royal Norwegian Navy'sHNoMS Thor Heyerdahl andHNoMS Maud, Germany'sFGS Hamburg, and France'sFS Aquitaine andFS Somme.[109] While in port, the crew participated in city tours and local events, including a veteran's run, and engaged in public outreach in Oslo.[109]
On 24 October, the carrier was redeployed to theCaribbean to take part in thenaval deployment in the area, arriving on 12 November,[110][111] marking America's largest military buildup in the Caribbeanin 30 years.[112] On 11 December, the USS Gerald Ford was reported as involved in the seizure of a foreign oil tanker off the coast ofVenezuela.[113]
According to information received by theThe New York Times, the crew was informed on 12 February that the carrier will join theUSSAbraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf.[114][115]
^O'Rourke, Ronald (22 October 2013)."Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress"(PDF). Congressional Research Service. p. 4.Archived(PDF) from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved8 February 2014. FY14 cost of CVN-79 (procured in FY13) in then-year dollars; the same budget puts the cost of CVN-78 (procured in FY08) at $12,829.3 million but that includes ~$3.3bn of development costs. CVN-80 is estimated at $13,874.2m, making the total cost of the first threeFords $38,041.9m, or $12.68bn each.
^Reade Levinson; Ricardo Arduengo; Idrees Ali; Phil Stewart; Jonathan Saul; Michael Pell; Clare Farley; Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa; Jon McClure; Mariano Zafra (2 November 2025)."How the US is preparing a military staging ground near Venezuela".Reuters. Retrieved8 November 2025.
^"Norfolk-based USS Gerald R. Ford involved in U.S. seizure of oil tanker off Venezuela coast". By: Michael Rinker. Dec 11, 2025. Wavy News Stream.[1]
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This article incorporatespublic domain material fromGerald R Ford (CVN-78) at theNaval Vessel Register.
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