USS GERALD R. FORD
1. Context
After a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas Saturday (October 7) escalated the decades long conflict in the region, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday ordered the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to assist Israel, if the need arose.
2. USS Gerald R Ford
- The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is the lead ship of the Gerald R. Ford-class of aircraft carriers in the United States Navy.
- Named after the 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, this supercarrier represents the next generation of aircraft carriers and incorporates several significant technological advancements and design changes compared to its predecessors.
- A standard US CSG comprises a cruiser, at least two frigates or destroyers, and a supply ship. On occasion, a CSG may also boast of one or more submarines. The US has sent cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, along with the Gerald R Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Here are 5 things that you should know about the USS Gerald R Ford
2.1. Size
- The USS Gerald R Ford is the largest warship ever built. It is 337 m long, 78 m wide (measured at the flight deck) and 76 m high.
- For perspective, the Qutub Minar in Delhi is just 72 m high more than 4.5 Qutub Minars would fit on the deck of the USS Gerald R Ford, lengthwise. It also displaces 100,000 tonnes at full load equivalent to nearly four times the weight of steel used for the Howrah Bridge
- For comparison, India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant weighs 45,000 tons at full load, with dimensions of 262 m x 62m x 59m.
2.2. Carrying Capacity
The carrier’s size allows it to support up to 90 aircraft, including the fifth gen F-35, F/A-18 Super Hornet, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, MH-60R/S helicopters, as well as a number of UAVs. To conduct all operations aboard the carrier, a crew of over 4,500 personnel is needed (including those running the ship, those in the air wing and other support staff)
INS Vikrant operates a total of 36 aircraft and is run by a crew of roughly 1,650.
2.3. Agility
Despite its size, the aircraft carrier is remarkably agile. With a top speed of over 30 knots (56 kmph), the Ford class carrier can keep up with much smaller vessels
This is due to the power generated by its two A1B nuclear reactors, offering 250% more electrical capacity than the Nimitz Class (the US’s previous generation of carriers). These reactors have a life cycle of 25 years.
3.Enhancements and Features:
- Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS): The Ford class carriers use an electromagnetic catapult system (EMALS) instead of the traditional steam catapults for launching aircraft.
- Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG): The Ford class carriers use an advanced system for aircraft recovery called the Advanced Arresting Gear.
- Increased Aircraft Capacity: The Ford class is designed to carry more aircraft and operate with increased efficiency compared to its predecessors.
4. Way forward
Aircraft carriers are offensive weapons and mightily expensive symbols of a nation’s military might. This means that despite its aircraft and onboard defence systems, the Gerald R Ford, like all aircraft carriers, always travels with the defensive cover of a carrier strike group (CSG)
Source: indianexpress
