What you need to know: The A.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), the second Ford-class aircraft carrier, is experiencing delays and is now expected to join the US Navy by 2025.

-Ford class transporters, including the Kennedyincorporate advanced technologies such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Equipment (AAG), allowing them to launch 25% more sorties than their predecessors.

-In addition, these ships generate much more electrical energy, thus improving their capabilities. Despite the setbacks, the Kennedy will support the Navy’s missions in the Indo-Pacific, particularly against rising tensions with China, once it is ready to deploy its fleet and can deploy advanced fighters like the F-35C.

USS John F. Kennedy’s New Ford-Class Carrier Explained

Like many upcoming U.S. Navy projects, the service’s latest Ford-class aircraft carrier is experiencing delays. The USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-9) was initially expected to be operationally ready by 2022. However, the warship is now expected to be delivered in 2022. 2025 as soon as possible. As the Navy’s new class of aircraft carrier, the Ford ships are equipped with the latest and greatest capabilities. Once operational, the Kennedy will join the Pacific Fleet to support Navy missions in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing tensions with China in the South China Sea.

Presentation of the Ford Class

In total, the Navy plans to procure ten Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The lead ship of the class, Gerald R. Fordwas commissioned in 2017 and replaced the Enterprise (CVN-65). As its sister ships are introduced, the service’s aging Nimitz-class ships will be phased out. Ford transporters are being developed to feature a more efficient design than its predecessor. Specifically, the incorporation of an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) and an Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) will distinguish this class.

With these industry-leading features in place, Ford transporters are able to launch twenty-five percent more sorties than the Nimitz class. Additionally, Ford ships generate three times more electrical power thanks to their new Bechtel A1B reactor. In terms of armament power, Ford ships are also superior to their predecessors. The U.S. Navy has outlined the requirement for a minimum 150 percent increase in power generation capacity of the new class compared to the Nimitz ships, according to Naval technology.

What’s the problem with the Ford class delays?

Given the prowess of Ford class ships will provide the Navy at sea, the timely arrival of the USS John F. Kennedy should be a top priority for the service. THE American Naval Institute had revealed that the delay in commissioning the ship occurred so that the Navy “could modify the ship’s post-development availability (PSA) and perform more work during construction.”

Navy budget documents explained that “the Navy is implementing a strategy to shift core work from Post-Shakedown Availability (PSA) to the construction period to provide more capabilities upon ship delivery.” »

Initially, the Kennedy was not capable of deploying the Navy’s latest attack fighter: the F-35C Lightning II.

As the Pentagon poured billions of dollars into funding this new aircraft carrier, Congress insisted that Kennedy be equipped to deploy the fifth-generation fighter. The Ford class will be a critical part of the Navy’s war strategy if all-out conflict with China erupts soon. Therefore, it would be foolish for the carrier not to be able to deploy the service’s high-end stealth fighter platform.

Once the remaining Ford-class ships, like the John F. Kennedy, are ready, the Navy will undoubtedly be better equipped to deal with growing geopolitical threats around the world, both in the South China Sea and in Red Sea.

About the author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlinnational security editor for The National Interest, is an analyst at the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has contributed articles to numerous publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

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