USS Gerald Ford Aircraft Carrier Is Getting Close To Combat Ready

USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN-78) flight deck May 30, 2020. US Navy Photo

National Interest: The U.S. Navy's New USS Gerald Ford Aircraft Carrier Is Getting Close to Combat Ready

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) recently completed the tests to prove that the latest aircraft carrier to enter service can launch and recover jets. Now the U.S. Navy has announced that it has the largest air wing embark to date. In addition, the Ford completed its first ordnance movement from a lower deck magazine to the carrier’s F/A-18E Super Hornets using the ship’s state-of-the-art Advanced Weapons Elevators

In a teleconference, the Commanding Officer of the carrier, Captain J.J. Cummings and Commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Captain Josh Sager, explained that the CVW-8 embarked seven squadrons and is operating nearly 30 fixed-wing aircraft and both of their Helicopter Sea Combat squadrons. This serves as an opportunity to stress and test the carrier’s unique design, and to demonstrate further her ability to conduct integrated air wing operations.

“This is a historic underway—we embarked nearly 1,000 Sailors, the largest air wing embark to date, and we were able to commence cyclic operations and it’s proven successful,” said Cummings. “It’s exciting to have the air wing onboard and get into their spaces and berthings so they can help us tighten things up to where they want them to be.”

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WNU Editor: We are still far away from the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier being combat ready. But it is getting there.

More News On The USS Gerald Ford Aircraft Carrier

Loaded with aircraft, carrier USS Gerald R. Ford begins ordnance operations -- UPI
For the first time complete Carrier Air Wing on board USS Gerald R. Ford CVN-78 aircraft carrier -- Navy Recognition
USS Ford Takes a Key Step Towards Functionality -- Maritime Executive
USS Gerald Ford Done Proving It Can Launch Planes, Ready to Tackle Warfighting Operations -- USNI

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