Imagine an iron mountain floating on the ocean, whose single gesture can wreak havoc in any corner of the world. This is not a scene from a Hollywood movie but Gerald R. of the US Navy. Ford is an aircraft carrier. When this monster weighing 1 lakh ton moves forward, tearing through the waves of the ocean, the radars of the enemy countries start trembling and the eyes of the satellites are fixed on it. It would not be wrong to call it an invincible fort of the sea because the missiles and laser guns deployed in its security do not allow even birds to be killed. This is not just a ship but the arrogance of America which currently no army in the world has the courage to challenge.
Unique features of Ford Class
The Ford Class aircraft carriers are many times more advanced than their predecessor ‘Nimitz Class’. Its biggest revolution is EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System). Earlier, planes were launched through steam, but now powerful magnetic waves are used, due to which heavy to heavy and light to light aircraft (drones) can be launched rapidly.
• Firepower: This ship can operate 160 to 220 sorties (flights) in a day. More than 75 fighter aircraft are deployed on it, including F-35C and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
• Automation: Due to its advanced technology, it requires 700 to 1,000 less soldiers than the Nimitz class, which reduces operating costs.
• A1B Nuclear Reactor: It has two powerful nuclear reactors which give it unlimited range. It can remain in the sea for 25 years without refueling.
• Dual radar system: It is fitted with ‘Dual Band Radar’ (DBR), which tracks enemy missiles and aircraft from a great distance.
Cost and ownership
Ford Class is considered to be the most expensive military project in the world. The first USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) cost about $13.3 billion (about Rs 1.1 lakh crore) to build. Apart from this, 5 billion dollars were spent separately on its research and development (R&D).
Strength of which countries’ passford class?
Currently only the United States has this technology. The US Navy plans to build a total of 10 Ford-class carriers.
1. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78): Currently in service.
2. USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79): In final stages of testing.
3. USS Enterprise (CVN 80) and USS Doris Miller (CVN 81): Under construction.
Geo Politics: ‘Superpower’ message of the ocean
Ford Class works as a diplomatic tool in geopolitics. Whenever America has to warn any country (like China or Iran), it deploys its aircraft carrier in that area.
• Challenge to China in Indo-Pacific: The Ford class is a major weapon to stop China’s growing influence in the South China Sea. This is the main means of ensuring Taiwan’s security and free trade route.
• balance of power: A Ford class carrier operates a complete ‘carrier strike group’ consisting of destroyers, submarines and cruisers. It has the capability to single-handedly destroy the entire air force of a small country.
Is it prepared for future wars?
There is also a debate among experts whether such expensive ships are safe in the era of ‘hypersonic missiles’? Countries like China and Russia are now developing carrier killer missiles. However, the Ford class has advanced missile defense systems and laser weapons capability which provides it with a protective shield. The Ford Class is not just a ship but a symbol of American technological superiority. Despite the high cost, it gives America an edge in the global balance of power that is currently impossible for any country to break. It will remain the backbone of the US Navy through 2026 and the decades beyond.
5 important questions related to Ford Class Aircraft Carrier
1. Why is the Ford class different from other aircraft carriers in the world?
Answer: Its biggest feature is EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System). Older aircraft carriers used steam to propel planes, but the Ford class uses powerful magnetic waves. This not only increases the flying speed of planes, but light weight drones can also be easily deployed on it.
2. What is the total cost of this warship and how much time did it take to build?
Answer: Its first ship, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), cost about $13.3 billion (about Rs 1.1 lakh crore) to build. It took about 12 years to construct it. This is considered to be the most expensive and advanced military project in the world so far.
3. Does the Ford Class require any fuel?
Answer: No, it runs on two nuclear reactors (A1B Nuclear Reactors). For this reason it does not require refilling for 20 to 25 years. It can move continuously for unlimited distances in the ocean, which gives it the power to reach any corner of the world instantly.
4. What is its security system, can it be sunk by missile?
Answer: Ford Class is like an impregnable fortress. Carrier strike groups (destroyers and submarines) are deployed around it. The ship itself is equipped with advanced dual band radar (DBR) and ‘surface-to-air’ missiles. Although China claims to have ‘carrier-killer’ missiles, Ford’s electronic warfare technology and laser weapons make it virtually invincible.
5. What is the importance of this ship in geo-politics?
Answer: This is a means of America’s ‘power projection’. Its mere presence changes the geopolitics of a region. Currently, amid increasing tensions with China, it is America’s most lethal weapon for the security of the South China Sea and Taiwan. This is a living proof of America’s dominance over the sea.
