NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Despite the well-documented challenges that have arisen for the USS Gerald R. Ford, ship leaders are convinced the carrier's all-new aircraft launch and recovery systems will work.
The first-in-class Ford's Advanced Arresting gear and Electromagnetic Aircraft launch system are new.
The Ford's Air Boss, Commander Mehdi Akacem, believes the more his sailors work around the sophisticated systems, the more proficient they will become.
"Really, with it being digitally driven systems, computerized systems, there's just so much less maintenance required on a daily basis," he said. "As we build up the denominator and get more experience I'm confident these systems will prove their potential."
A recent report from the Pentagon's Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation showed that the Ford's launch system suffered 10 "critical failures" across 747 aircraft launches in at-sea trials since delivery in 2017.
The report said the arresting gear had 10 "operational mission failures" over the course of 763 landing attempts in that same time frame.
Despite those numbers, the air boss is convinced that the less labor-intensive new systems will do what they're designed to do, and his crew will do a great job.
"I'm fascinated by the technology," he said. "What really matters is the sailors, right? So, getting the sailors the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise, build their own confidence and prove the capability that in them as a team...That's what I'm really excited about."
The $12.9 billion Ford is set to leave Newport News Shipbuilding in July after completing what's called a "post-shakedown availability."
From there, the ship will head back out to sea for more testing.
