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The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the most technologically advanced warship ever built.
Fox Van Allen
Dec. 10, 2019 11:28 a.m. PT
1 of 74John Whalen/Mike Dillard for Huntington Ingalls Industries
USS Gerald Ford model photo
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, seen here in a combination model and live shot photo, is the first in the US Navy’s next generation of warships, the Ford class. USS Gerald R. Ford was officially commissioned on July 22, 2017.
Here’s everything we know about both ships so far…and it’s pretty eye-popping.
2 of 74Chris Oxley for Huntington Ingalls Industries
The launching of the USS Gerald R. Ford
The Gerald R. Ford was launched from dry dock into Virginia’s James River in November 2013 to begin its trials.
3 of 74Chris Oxley/Mike Dillard for Huntington Ingalls Industries
USS John F. Kennedy (2020)
Pictured here (in a composite photo illustration) is the second carrier in the Navy’s new Ford-class, the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).
It is currently under construction at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia and will be commissioned in 2020.
4 of 74MC2 Jason Pastrick
The official commissioning
The USS Gerald Ford was officially commissioned on July 22, 2017 in Norfolk, Virginia. Rooted in naval tradition, a commissioning is an elaborate ceremony that puts a ship in active service.
5 of 74MC3 Matthew Fairchild
Saluting the commander in chief
Though President Trump has been critical of the ship in the past, he struck a much more inspirational tone during the ship’s commissioning ceremony.
“American hands and American steel constructed a 100,000-ton message to the world: American might is second to none,” he said.
6 of 74MC2 Ryan Litzenberger
Bringing the Ford to life
With President Ford’s daughter Susan Bales Ford giving the order on July 22 to “bring her to life,” sailors aboard the USS Gerald Ford rush to man the rails — that is, take evenly spaced positions along the sides of the ship for a salute.
7 of 74US Navy/Getty Images
