USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

The lead ship in her class of American Navy aircraft carriers is USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). The vessel bears the name Gerald Ford in honor of the 38th President of the United States, who served in the military during World War II and saw battle when stationed on the light aircraft carrier Monterey in the Pacific Theater.

On August 11, 2005, Northrop Grumman held a ceremonial steel cut for a 15-ton plate that is a component of the carrier's side shell unit. This marked the start of construction. On November 13, 2009, Gerald R. Ford's keel was formally laid. On November 9, 2013, she was baptized. Gerald R. Ford replaced the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), which was decommissioned in December 2012 after 51 years of service. Gerald R. Ford was originally due to be delivered in 2015; however, she was delivered to the Navy on May 31, 2017, and President Donald Trump formally commissioned her on July 22, 2017. The carrier will make its first deployment, according to the Navy, sometime in 2022. It is the largest aircraft carrier in the world as of 2017 and the largest warship ever built in terms of displacement.

The USS Enterprise and the US Navy's current Nimitz-class carriers could be replaced by the GERALD FORD class of aircraft carriers, which is currently being developed. In addition to having technology like the electromagnetic aircraft launch system and other design elements targeted at increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs, such as sailing with a smaller staff, the new ships have a hull similar to the Nimitz-class carriers. Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier can hold 75 aircraft and is more than 100,000 tons in weight.

Cost: $13.3 billion

Country: United States