The USS Gerald R. Ford was meant to mark a new chapter in naval aviation for the United States Navy, but the lead ship of its new class of American aircraft carriers still lacks the full modifications necessary for consistent F-35C operations.
The issue, of course, is larger than just hot exhaust.
It reveals the Navy’s tendency to introduce impressive platforms before the supporting system around them is fully ready.
Just think about what it took to build the Gerald R. Ford. It is the largest aircraft carrier ever constructed. The Navy integrated a host of new technologies to support the carrier and ensure it stayed ahead of American rivals.
Everything from the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) to the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), and even the ship’s onboard plumbing, was reimagined in a way that the Pentagon believed would make the Ford-class the dominant class of carriers—unmatched, really—for decades to come.
After high cost and schedule overruns, the Ford was finally launched. It cost taxpayers $13 billion to build, and many of the new onboard systems—including the EMALS and AAG—did not function correctly.
Hellbound and Down 