The USS Gerald R. Ford: A $13 billion aircraft Carrier with a $1 billion problem

The USS Gerald R. Ford is a class of supercarrier being built to replace the USS Enterprise and eventually the United States Navy's existing Nimitz-class carriers. Supercarrier is the term for the largest type of aircraft carrier typically displacing over 70,000 long tons. This new aircraft Carrier will have a hull similar to the Nimitz carriers but will have newer technologies. At roughly $13 billion, it dwarfs the Nimitz cost of $8.5 billion per warship.

USS Gerald R. Ford

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There is just one problem, One of the key technologies been deployed, the EMALS catapult system, has problems and is not ready for action. The previous class, i.e. Nimitz class, had a steam powered catapult system. The catapult system is a device used to launch aircraft from ships. In March of 2017 President Donald Trump conveyed his desire for a return to the Steam powered Catapult system because of mounting costs. Asked about the future of the Ford-Class carriers he said:

“It is very complicated; you have to be Albert Einstein to figure it out. And I said – and now they want to buy more aircraft carriers. I said what system are you going to be – 'Sir, we're staying with digital.' I said no you're not. You going to goddamned steam, the digital costs hundreds of millions of dollars more money and it's no good.”

Background
The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers were constructed between 1968 and 2006 and were ten in all. They have been the largest warships built and in service. They can accelerate and decelerate more quickly than a conventional ship, and can cruise indefinitely. The Nimitz class is named after the World War II hero, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who was the U.S. Navy's last surviving fleet admiral.

USS Nimitz

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The Ford class is designed to address two of the greatest problems facing the Nimitz. The problems are limited electrical power generation capability and erosion of the center-of-gravity margin for stability. Other benefits will include a wider flight deck, 25% more sorties and better living standards for the crew.

USS Gerald R. Ford technology will introduce the following technologies:
• Advanced arresting gear
• Greater power generation: A new nuclear reactor design the-A1B reactor
• Armament: An updated RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile
• Automation: allowing a crew of several hundred fewer than the Nimitz-class carrier.
• Radar: An AN/SPY-3 X Band multifunction radar and an AN/SPY-4 S Band volume search radar
• Stealth: Stealth features to reduce radar cross-section.
• Catapult: An Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) in place of traditional steam catapults for launching
aircraft

USS Gerald R. Ford

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EMALS vs. Steam
EMALS is the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System been deployed for the Gerald ford. The system consists of a linear induction motor, which uses electric currents to generate magnetic fields that propel a carriage along a track to launch the aircraft. EMALS is been developed by the General Atomics for United States Navy. Meanwhile, steam catapults have proven exceptionally reliable over the years. Carriers equipped with steam catapults have been able to use at least one of them 99 percent of the time. However, there are a number of disadvantages in using steam. The foremost deficiency is that the catapult operates without feedback control. Without feedback, there is often buildup of large transients in tow force that can damage or reduce the life of the plane’s airframe. Secondly, steam works well for heavy aircraft but not aircraft as light as many UAVs.
In the year 2004, the contract to develop the EMALS was listed at $145 million. The most recent cost estimate from the Pentagon shows the Navy has spent just over $950 million developing the system.

EMALS

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Conclusion
The EMALS system weighs less, requires less maintenance, less space and manpower. It is more reliable, recharges quicker, and uses less energy. Steam is simply outdated technology. The Navy completed testing on a software fix for EMALS that will allow the heaviest planes to take off with less stress to the airframe. We hope a fix for lighter aircraft will be discovered soon. The software fix will be uploaded to the EMALS aboard the Gerald Ford in 2019, when it goes in for its post-shakedown availability. President Trump should be a little patient.

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