More Repairs On America's Newest Aircraft Carrier Pushes Its Delivery Date Into October

Sailors on the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford during its commissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Julio Martinez Martinez

USNI News: USS Gerald Ford Delivery Delayed Due to Extensive Nuclear Propulsion, Weapons Elevator Repairs; Carrier Won’t be Ready Until October

CAPITOL HILL – Unforeseen problems in repairing USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) will push delivery of the carrier back to the fleet by three months, into October, Navy officials told a House Armed Services Committee panel on Tuesday.

The initial 12-month post-shakedown availability (PSA) was designed to fix any problems that arose during the carrier’s first at-sea period, when the crew works the ship hard to help identify any problems in construction, as well as to tackle any work that the Navy and shipbuilder agreed to bump from the construction period to PSA. The carrier had planned to conduct a one-year PSA, then work up with its crew and deploy in 2021.

The new delay is due to more time needed to repair Ford’s nuclear propulsion system and Advanced Weapons Elevators, Navy acquisition chief James Geurts told the HASC’s seapower and projection forces subcommittee.

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Update #1: U.S. Navy's Troubled New Aircraft Carrier Delayed Again As Propulsion Issues Arise (Warzone)
Update #2: Why the carrier Ford is delayed again (Mark D. Faram, Navy Times)

WNU Editor: I understand that this is the first carrier of its class, but these repairs and problems are certainly adding to the costs as well as raising questions on the rational for keeping a fleet of aircraft carriers.