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USS Gerald R. Ford – the world's most expensive warship at $13 billion – is all set to be be commissioned into the US Navy. This is the first new US aircraft carrier design in 40 years. All Ford-class aircraft carriers are the most expensive warships ever built! The USS Gerald R. Ford is $2.5 billion over budget and three years behind schedule. The second Ford-class aircraft carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy, is running 5 years late and will be commissioned in 2020. We take a look at the mighty warship and its special features: (Image by Huntington Ingalls)
According to the US Navy, the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier "will be the premier forward asset for crisis response and early decisive striking power in a major combat operation". (Image by US Navy) -
The aircraft carrier has been built by Huntington Ingalls Industries. Gerald R. Ford is the first aircraft carrier that has been designed with all electric utilities. This helps eliminate steam service lines from the ship and hence reduces maintenance requirements and improves corrosion control, says the US Navy. (Image by US Navy)
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USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is propelled by two nuclear reactors driving four shafts. It has a total length of 1,092 feet, and a flight deck width of 256 feet. (Image by US Navy)
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier can attain a speed of 30+ knots and can accommodate over 75 aircraft on its extensive deck. <br /><br /> The Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier is "designed to maximize the striking power of the embarked carrier air wing," says the US Navy. The ship maximises the sortie generation rate of its strike aircraft, the US Navy claims. (Image by Huntington Ingalls) 
According to a Reuters report, US is "only country" to base its naval strategy on aircraft carriers. US has a fleet of 10 active carriers – making it 10 times as big as that deployed by Russia. Even China has only two aircraft carriers – having launched its second (yet unnamed) warship – recently. (Image by Huntington Ingalls) -
USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier reportedly has a one-of-its-kind control system – a touch-screen navigation display – that has replaced the traditional throttle system present in the other aircraft carriers of the US Navy. (Image by US Navy)
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USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has an advanced arresting gear, electromagnetic aircraft launch system and dual band radar – all of which enhance the automation aspect of the warship, hence reducing the number of crew members required. (Image by US Navy)
USS Gerald R. Ford is the first aircraft carrier to join the US Navy fleet since USS George HW Bush was delivered in 2009. The ship, by its name, honours the 38th president of the US, Gerald Ford. (Image by US Navy)
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