NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- More technical problems have forced the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) back to port.
According to the Navy Times, the Norfolk-based super-carrier left Saturday for an extended operational testing of the ship's systems. But serious problems with the propulsion system forced the Ford to return to Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday.
The Navy isn't saying how long a fix could take, but Navy Times reports the ship could be back at sea soon.
The Ford is the Navy's newest class of aircraft carrier and has been going through various tests and trials of its cutting-edge technology ever since it was commissioned last year.
A recent Government Accountability Office report said the Navy could spend another $780 million preparing the $12.9 billion carrier for battle.
Retired Rear Admiral Mike Groothousen, who flew Navy jets and was C.O. of the USS Harry S. Truman at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, said he's 100 percent sure that the Navy and Newport News Shipbuilding will correct any deficiencies, and that the Ford will go on to help U.S. pilots fight and win wars for decades to come.
"Obviously, the ship's still under warranty, [and] will be for some time, and they have to make it right," he said. "I'm hoping it will be a quick fix, get whatever the issue is under control, and get her right back out and about. But you don't want to fool around with propulsion issues because they can escalate."
U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA 1st District) is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. In a statement to 13News Now, he said, "USS Gerald R. Ford is a complex ship and is the future of the Navy ... I believe that the Navy needs to continue to take steps to aggressively eliminate these construction defects and expeditiously get the ship in the hands of the sailors."
In another statement, U.S. Senator and Senate Armed Services Committee member Tim Kaine called this setback "unfortunate."
But he added, "I'm glad the Navy is going through all of the proper testing procedures and know they will get the ship out as soon as possible."
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