The USS Gerald R. Ford, the newest and most advanced U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, has completed Full Ship Shock Trials to validate its shock resistance and operational sustainability in combat conditions. Over four months, the carrier endured three underwater blasts, each weighing 40,000 pounds and progressively closer to the ship.
“The Navy designed the Ford-class carrier using advanced computer modeling methods, testing, and analysis to ensure the ships are hardened to withstand harsh battle conditions,” said Capt. Brian Metcalf, manager for the Navy’s future aircraft carrier program office, PMS 378. The trials had been specifically aimed at ensuring that the integrated combat systems performed on Ford as designed to demonstrate the ability of the ship to sustain formidable shocks and continue operations under extreme conditions.
Rear Adm. James P. Downey, the program executive officer for aircraft carriers, had a front-row seat to those trials. These tests represent a continuing validation of the development of the Ford class, he said. The ship and crew performed outstandingly under extreme conditions during these very important trials, demonstrating the ship’s “fight-through” capability, he added.
The FSSTs were conducted under stringent environmental mitigation requirements and included precise coordination across multiple Navy and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) organizations. A team of scientists, biologists, and observers also participated in securing the protection of marine life during the tests. It was the crew’s preparedness and professionalism that enabled us to successfully execute the trials and within the testing window, said Ford’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Paul Lanzilotta.
These trials mark a major milestone for the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, representing the first major design investment the Navy has made in aircraft carriers since the 1960s. The CVN 78 has been engineered to support new technologies and a modern air wing, integral in deterring and defeating near-peer adversaries in complex maritime environments.
Teams of those returning the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Tidewater area for a six-month PIA will also bring in-depth inspections of the damage sustained during the shots. This would also include modernization and maintenance to prepare the ship for deployment in 2022. Such testing, and then maintenance after testing, demonstrates the commitment of the Navy to ensure resilience and operational readiness in an evolving set of threats.