What Are The U.S. War Machines Deterring Threats in the Middle East?

A potential war between Iran and Israel looms as 2024 draws to a close. In response to Israel’s recent strike on Russian-supplied S-400 anti-air batteries, Israel’s strongest ally, the United States, has positioned itself to deter any Iranian retaliation. Although U.S. carriers were pulled from the region in November, it’s likely that their presence in the Mediterranean could return—and the next deployment may include the more advanced and lethal Ford-class carriers. This possibility highlights the importance of understanding the history and capabilities of these “floating cities” and the strike groups that leave adversaries on edge. The Gerald R. Ford-class represents the latest generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers developed for the U.S. Navy. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, this class is part of the Navy’s CVN-21 Aircraft Carrier Program—a project aimed at modernizing the fleet with cutting-edge capabilities.

The Navy first announced this new class in January 2007, naming it after the 38th U.S. President, Gerald R. Ford. The inaugural ships in the class include the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), USS Enterprise (CVN-80), and USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), each bearing the legacy of previous carriers with historic significance.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead vessel of this class, was delivered to the Navy in May 2017 and officially commissioned in July of the same year. This formidable carrier completed an intensive, multi-week training exercise in April 2023, achieving certification as a fully combat-deployable asset.

In replacing the venerable USS Enterprise (CVN-65), which retired in 2017 after over fifty years of distinguished service, the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers are poised to carry forward the U.S. Navy’s tradition of naval dominance into the future.

They're Nimitz Class Upgrades

he Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers are bigger than the older Nimitz-class carriers, with a weight of about 100,000 tons. Despite their size, they need 500 to 900 fewer crew members thanks to advanced automation and new technology.

Compared to the Nimitz-class, the Ford-class has 23 improved or brand-new systems. Each carrier is 333 meters long, 40.8 meters wide, with a flight deck that's 78 meters across, giving it more space to operate.

Reducing the number of people needed to run the carrier was an important goal set in 2000 for this program. New technology in the Ford-class is expected to lower maintenance by 30% and reduce the crew’s workload with more automation.

These carriers can launch more aircraft missions daily—160 compared to 140 for the Nimitz-class. They’re also built to stay stable and secure over their expected 50-year lifespan and have 150% more electrical power to support high-tech equipment.

Another key feature is interoperability, meaning these carriers can work well with other ships and systems in the Navy and adapt to new missions in the future.

A Better Design

The construction of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers has progressed through a series of milestones for each ship.

The first ship, USS Gerald R. Ford, started with steel cutting in August 2005, and the keel was laid in November 2009. By October 2013, it was fitted with four 30-ton bronze propellers, and it embarked on its first journey in November of the same year. Testing continued, including anchor trials in 2014 and electromagnetic launch system trials in 2015. After these tests, the ship returned to the shipyard in 2018 for final adjustments.

The USS John F. Kennedy began construction in February 2011, and its keel was laid in July 2015. It was launched in December 2019. In 2023, additional funding was provided to modify its delivery plan, with a new delivery date set for July 2025.

The USS Enterprise, built with steel from the decommissioned CVN-65, began its construction in August 2017. This new Enterprise, the ninth ship with this name, had its keel laid in August 2022. It is planned to replace the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower when it retires in 2029, with a targeted delivery date of September 2029.

Finally, the USS Doris Miller began its construction in August 2021, with its keel expected to be laid in 2026. Delivery of this carrier is projected for February 2032.

Each of these carriers follows a precise schedule, with milestones that reflect years of planning, advanced technology, and commitment to maintaining naval power for the future..

Operational Capabilities

In 2008, Raytheon was hired to install a special radar system on the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. This radar, called the dual-band radar (DBR), combines two types of radar (X-band and S-band) to spot different kinds of targets effectively.

For the ship’s power, Northrop Grumman created a modern nuclear propulsion system. It has two reactors and four shafts, which help the carrier run smoothly and provide enough power for all its advanced technology.

These carriers can carry up to 90 aircraft, including the latest F-35 fighter jets, Super Hornets, helicopters, and even unmanned drones. They’re designed to handle 160 flights (or “sorties”) per day, and in intense situations, they can push up to 220 flights a day. To make this work, the flight deck was redesigned with more space for parking planes, and three elevators instead of four. This layout lets crews refuel and rearm aircraft faster.

One of the big upgrades on these carriers is the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). Instead of using steam to launch planes, EMALS uses an electromagnetic motor. This system is easier on the planes and the pilots, allowing for a smoother, more controlled launch, which is especially helpful for launching drones or unmanned aircraft.

The carriers also use a new type of landing gear, called advanced arrestor gear (AAG). This system carefully controls the landing cables to reduce strain on both the planes and the landing gear, making landings safer and smoother.

Weapons Capabilities

The Gerald R. Ford-class carriers are equipped with advanced weapons systems to defend against a range of threats. For defense, they carry Raytheon's evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, which are designed to counter high-speed, highly maneuverable anti-ship missiles. Additionally, they have the rolling airframe missile system from Raytheon and Ramsys for close-in defense, offering another layer of protection against incoming threats.

To support the high number of aircraft sorties, the flow of weapons to aircraft stations on the flight deck was upgraded. The carriers carry various types of munitions, including missiles and cannon rounds for fighter jets, bombs and air-to-surface missiles for attack missions, and torpedoes and depth charges for anti-submarine operations.

Weapons elevators play a key role in transporting these munitions. They move weapons from the storage magazines to handling and assembly areas on the 02-level deck, just below the flight deck. Special "express" weapons elevators connect these handling areas directly to the flight deck, speeding up the process of loading aircraft.

These carriers also have 150% more power-generation capacity than the Nimitz-class carriers. This extra power supports the four electromagnetic aircraft launchers and leaves room for potential future systems, like directed energy weapons, which could be added during the carrier’s 50-year service life.

And Their Contractors

The construction and outfitting of the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers involved multiple contracts awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) and several other contractors, reflecting the complexity and scale of these projects.

The U.S. Department of Defense provided early funding to NNS, including $107.6 million in July 2003 and $1.39 billion in May 2004, along with $559 million for preparing the carrier’s construction and propulsion design. Later, in September 2008, NNS received a $5.1 billion contract to handle the detailed design and construction of the USS Gerald R. Ford.

For ongoing support, NNS also secured contracts for maintenance and repair planning to address the ship's operational needs over time. As work continued, Northrop Grumman awarded contracts for the planning and design of the USS John F. Kennedy, the second carrier, in 2006, and NNS received additional funds to prepare and construct the ship in 2013 and 2014, totaling over $1.7 billion.

Designing the advanced weapons elevators involved collaboration with Federal Equipment Company and Oldenburg Lakeshore, chosen by Northrop Grumman. These elevators, which move weapons quickly to the flight deck, are critical for the carriers' high sortie rates.

NNS also took on the third carrier, USS Enterprise, with a $152 million contract in 2016 for advanced planning and materials. In 2019, a major $15.2 billion contract modification covered the detailed design and construction of both USS Enterprise and USS Doris Miller.

Additional contractors provided key components. Fairbanks Morse supplied emergency diesel generators for the USS Enterprise and USS Doris Miller, while Timken’s Philadelphia Gear division delivered main reduction gears for Doris Miller. In June 2023, General Atomics received a contract modification for the EMALS and AAG systems on Doris Miller, and in 2024, QinetiQ US joined to provide hardware and software support for these systems.

These extensive contracts highlight the collaborative effort between defense contractors to equip the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers with cutting-edge technology and ensure their readiness for future missions anywhere on any ocean if need be.