A Look At Why America's New Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier Are More Lethal Than Its Predecessors

Tugboats maneuver the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) into the James River.US Navy

The National Interest: What Makes America's New Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier Truly Dangerous

Some of the most important mechanic advancements are deep inside the ship – part of the revamped elevator system used to carry bombs, missiles and other aircraft-loaded equipment from the Ford’s bowels to the vessel’s higher decks.

Slated for springtime delivery, the aircraft carrier CVN 78 Gerald Ford has sparked much interest in its technological breakthroughs for launching and recovering aircraft – as well as new systems to cut down on the number of sailors that run the ship and run up the costs of operating the vessel.

But some of the most important mechanic advancements are deep inside the ship – part of the revamped elevator system used to carry bombs, missiles and other aircraft-loaded equipment from the Ford’s bowels to the vessel’s higher decks.

The 10 elevators have to carry up to about 200,000 pounds of weapons from the main deck magazine to the flight deck preparation area, according to Newport News shipbuilders at Hunting Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding unit.

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WNU Editor: Some are not happy with how this new U.S. aircraft carrier has been developed and built .... New warship "poster child for how you don't build a ship," says ex-Navy secretary (CBS News).