Credit
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
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At a glance
Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrierlarger figure on 1 of 1
Nimitz-class aircraft carrierlarger figure on 0 of 1
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
waterline
Single sourceflight deck
Single source256 ft (78 m) (flight deck) 134 ft (41 m) (waterline)[source]
Waterline
Single sourceOverall
Single sourceBars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
Configuration
| Specification | Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier | Nimitz-class aircraft carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Range | Unlimited[source] | Unlimited distance; 20–25 years[source] |
| Power | Two Bechtel A1B PWR nuclear reactors , HEU 93.5%[source] | 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors ( HEU 93.5%) 4 × steam turbines 4 × shafts 260,000 shp (190 MW)[source] |
| Name | Gerald R. Ford -class aircraft carrier[source] | Nimitz -class aircraft carrier[source] |
| Builders | Newport News Shipbuilding[source] | Newport News Shipbuilding Company[source] |
| Operators | United States Navy[source] | United States Navy[source] |
| Preceded by | Nimitz class[source] | Enterprise class[source] |
| Cost | Program cost: US$ 37.30 billion (FY2018) Unit cost: US$12.998 billion (FY2018)[source] | US$1.98 billion in 1975 ($11.4 billion in 2024)[source] |
| Built | 2009–present[source] | 1968–2006[source] |
| In service | 2017–present[source] | 1975–present[source] |
| Planned | 10[source] | — |
| On order | — | |
| Building | — | |
| Completed | 10[source] | |
| Active | 10[source] | |
| Type | Aircraft carrier[source] | Aircraft carrier[source] |
| Decks | 25[source] | — |
| Propulsion | Four shafts[source] | — |
| Endurance | 50-year service life[source] | — |
| Sensors & processing systems | AN/SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar (MFR) X band active electronically scanned array (CVN-78) AN/SPY-4 Volume Search Radar (VSR) S band active electronically scanned array (CVN-78) AN/SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) S band active electronically scanned array (CVN-79 and up) AN/SPQ-9B X band surface search radar (CVN-79 and up)[source] | AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar AN/SPQ-9 B target acquisition radar AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars AN/SPN-43C air traffic control radar AN/SPN-41 landing aid radars 4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems 4 × Mk 95 radars[source] |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | AN/SLQ-32(V)6 electronic warfare system AN/SLQ-25C Nixie towed torpedo decoys[source] | AN/SLQ-32A(V)4 countermeasures suite SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures[source] |
| Armament | Surface-to-air missiles : 2 × Mk 29 Guided Missile Launching Systems, 8 × RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) each 2 × Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching Systems, 21 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles each Guns: 3 × Phalanx CIWS 4 × Mk 38 25 mm Machine Gun Systems 4 × M2 .50 cal. (12.7 mm) machine guns[source] | 2–3 × Mk 29 Guided Missile Launching Systems, 8 × RIM-162 ESSM or RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles each 3–4 × Phalanx CIWS 2 × Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching Systems, 21 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles each Mk 38 25 mm Machine Gun Systems[source] |
| Aircraft carried | 75+[source] | 85–90 fixed wing and helicopters[source] |
| Aviation facilities | 1,092 ft × 252 ft (333 m × 77 m) flight deck[source] | — |
| Country of origin | United States[source] | United States[source] |
| Succeeded by | — | Gerald R. Ford class[source] |
| Subclasses | — | Theodore Roosevelt class and Ronald Reagan class[source] |
| In commission | — | 3 May 1975–present[source] |
| Armor | — | 2.5 in (64 mm) Kevlar over vital spaces[source] |
Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m) Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)[source]