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On December 22, the 11th and final Advanced Weapons Elevator (AWE) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) was turned over to the Ship’s Crew. AWEs on this first-of-class aircraft carrier operate using several advanced technologies including electromagnetic motors vice more labor intensive, hydraulic systems. The advanced technology enables fewer sailors to safely move ordnance from weapons magazines to the…
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USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) departed Naval Station Norfolk to make the transit to Newport News Shipyard in support of her Planned Incremental Availability (PIA), a six-month period of modernization, maintenance, and repairs, August 20, 2021. Ford’s PIA was scheduled to serve as the final maintenance phase for the ship prior to her inaugural deployment next year. “Team Wolverine…
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USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) successfully conducted a third explosive event off the coast of Jacksonville, FL, on 8 Aug., marking the completion of the ship’s Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST). Shock Trials validate a ship’s shock hardness and ability to sustain operations in a simulated combat environment using live ordnance. During the four-month testing evolution, the first-in-class aircraft…
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The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) completes the first scheduled explosive event of Full Ship Shock Trials while underway in the Atlantic Ocean, June 18, 2021. The U.S. Navy conducts shock trials of new ship designs using live explosives to confirm that our warships can continue to meet demanding mission requirements under harsh conditions they might encounter…
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June 18, 2021 – On Friday, June 18, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) successfully completed the first scheduled explosive event as part of Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST). The first-in-class aircraft carrier was designed using advanced computer modeling methods, testing, and analysis to ensure the ship is hardened to withstand battle conditions, and these shock trials provide data…
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May 5, 2021 – USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) completed its 18-month post-delivery test and trials (PDT&T) period on 30 April, after finishing Combat Systems Ship’s Qualification Trials (CSSQT) in mid-April with an exceptional performance. Since the October 2019 start of PDT&T, the ship completed all required testing, certified the flight deck, embarked the air wing, accomplished work ahead…
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March 5, 2021 – Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) hosted the Blue Water Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Skyways team for an exercise that could impact the way the Navy handles transporting parts for repairs needed aboard forward deployed ships. MARMC, in collaboration with the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Beach Detachment and the Blue Water team, tested the abilities…
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December 9, 2020 – The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport NATO Naval Forces Weapon and Sensor Accuracy Check Site (FORACS) Sensor Accuracy Test (SAT) team recently executed a successful test on the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the lead ship of a new class of aircraft carriers. Since this class of vessel had not been tested before,…
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November 19, 2020 – Off the Coast of Virginia, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and its embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW)-8 are conducting the first-ever, fully integrated carrier strike group operations for a Ford-class carrier, under the leadership and operational control of Carrier Strike Group (CSG)-12. The operation also includes Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2; CSG-12’s air and missile defense…
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November 10, 2020 – Under the leadership of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) along with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, CSG-12’s Air and Missile Defense Commander, Commanding Officer of USS Gettysburg (CG 64), and CSG-12’s Information Warfare Commander commenced first-ever fully integrated carrier strike group operations for the Ford-class carrier,…
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