Now the U.S. Navy has ten aircraft carriers - most recently there were 11, but the Enterprise was decommissioned. For forty years, ships of this class did not leave American slipways. The most modern aircraft carrier “Gerald Ford” in 2016 should be put into operation in order to make up for the natural decline. Naturally, during its construction the latest technological advances were taken into account. It will be half a century to serve the ship, during which time a lot can happen.
Carriers as part of US global strategy
Already during the Second World War, aircraft-carrying ships turned from simply floating airfields into formidable combat units of the fleet. However, at the European Maritime Theater of War, their role was not very important, they were too big a goal, and there was no particular need for them. But against Japan they were widely used, the need for tactical air support far from the American coast was reflected. Then there was Korea and Vietnam, during these regional wars, a circle of combat missions was outlined, suggesting that the use of aircraft carriers is most effective if the enemy does not have serious anti-ship potential. For this reason, during the Cold War, the United States favored conventional ground-based air bases, which sought to push the borders of the USSR and the countries of the Warsaw Bloc as close as possible. The conclusion from this is simple - the newest aircraft carrier Gerald Ford is a means of implementing the policy of the "big baton", which has been more than a century old, and will serve as a means of intimidation of small rebellious states located far from the US coast.
President Ford
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., of course, was an outstanding political leader of the era of the 70s, and even managed to serve the people of the United States in his presidency. However, the name of the new ship and the entire subsequent series, in which it occupies the title place, aroused already at the design stage, which began in 1996, objections from Pentagon leaders and ordinary naval officers. For all its merits, according to many naval "hawks," the ex-president, who died in 2006, does not deserve to be named in honor of an aircraft carrier. Gerald R. Ford was not belligerent, he was a supporter of detente in relations with the Soviet Union, in addition, he became the only president not elected by the procedure adopted in America, and he took office “automatically” after the resignation of Nixon, who got dirty in Watergate. Another proud name was proposed, maybe not very original, but impressive, "America." But, despite the objections, the bookmark still called the aircraft carrier "Gerald Ford."
Project
The idea was particularly ambitious. After such a long break, something special was needed, demonstrating the unfading glory and titanic power of the American fleet, the most powerful in the world. Various solutions were proposed, including the most revolutionary. The new ship was originally planned to be built using the Stells technology, giving its contours the characteristic “invisibility” angularity. However, considering the estimated costs, the country's leadership decided to confine itself to the building of the already proven Nimitz project with some justifiable changes and focus on the technological aspects of the equipment. The latest American aircraft carrier Gerald Ford already cost the budget, according to the most conservative estimates, 13 billion, which is twice as high (even taking into account the falling purchasing power of the dollar) than the cost of previous similar projects. The amount, by the way, is not final.
Comparative Efficiency (Nimitz)
With, in general, similar characteristics (displacement of 100 thousand tons, dimensions of the flight deck 317 x 40 meters) with the latest series of aircraft carriers currently in service, this ship has a number of obvious advantages. Without dwelling on the economy, it is possible to evaluate what is primarily of interest to military sailors, namely the combat capabilities that the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier will have. His characteristics are as follows:
- The number of aircraft wing aircraft - 90.
- The number of sorties during the day is from 160 (normal) to 220 (maximum, in combat conditions).
It is the latter indicator that is the main argument of the project critics. The obsolete Nimitz could “shoot” into the sky and take 120 planes a day to its deck (as usual). Combat effectiveness increased by only 30% with a doubling in the cost of the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier.
How much does it cost to drop a bomb?
Americans count everything. For example, the fact that over the past decade naval aviation has sent 16 thousand bombs and missiles to the heads of Serbs, Iraqis, Libyans and other "bad guys". Dividing this figure by the number of aircraft gives the number 18 (on average, each combat unit of equipment delivered so many bombs to the target). But this is not all, there are data on the cost of dumping each individual ammunition - $ 7.5 million. A little expensive So, if you take into account the price of the F-35C deck aircraft, which Gerald Ford aircraft carrier is going to complete, and the costs of its maintenance, then this amount can grow several times. The ship itself is also twice as expensive. Therefore, in order for the budget not to crack, saving measures are needed. And they were accepted, and at a fundamentally constructive level.
How to save on an aircraft carrier?
The main items of expenditures during the operation of a combat ship include expenses for maintaining the crew, fuel, depreciation, and activities related to combat training. When designing the aircraft carrier “Gerald Ford” (Gerald Ford), the wishes of the country's leadership and fleet command about the reduction of crew and operating costs compared with the “Nimitz” were taken into account . The main “money-eater” on ships with a nuclear power plant is considered a reactor (there are two of them on the Ford), especially at the time of replacement of energy-generating elements. The life of an aircraft carrier is 50 years, and all these years it can do without reloading. Nuclear fuel loaded into the core during construction has been consumed for half a century.
As for the crew, it is reduced by a thousand people, and consists of 2500 team members. This is achieved through the automation of many operations. And all the same, the operation of the ship during its service will cost more than 22 billion.
Performance characteristics and weapons
The next Gerald Ford-class aircraft carrier project (CVN-77) will be called John F. Kennedy. Over the next twelve years, four ships of this type are planned to be put on combat duty. Not much is known about them, but some data are published. The course of the aircraft carrier is 30 knots (nautical miles per hour) with an unlimited cruising range, the draft is 7.8 meters. Decks 25. The superstructures are designed to minimize the effective scattering surface (EPR), as a result of the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier on the radar screens will “glow” as a relatively small destroyer. Composite materials (including damping noises) and radar absorbing coatings are widely used in the design. The ship has powerful radar and navigation equipment, flight support systems, satellite coded communications and much more, including the Aegis system. The basis of the wing will be the Super-Hornets F-18, and possibly the F-35C, if their production is resumed. The latest American aircraft carrier is designed to use a wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles. Shipborne air defense is based on SM-3 "Standard" missiles with fairly modest characteristics.
How scary is the Ford?
The ship is impressive in size, displacement, the number of aircraft on and below the deck, and its electronics. Of course, with his appearance, the American fleet will become even stronger. However, the fact of emphasizing the strike capabilities of an air wing to the detriment of protection from a possible air (including missile) attack suggests that, unlike many other weapon systems, the US carrier Gerald Ford is not built to threaten Russia . The Russian fleet is much (at times) inferior to the American in total displacement, but at the same time it has an effective structure that allows these marine giants to be kept at a safe distance.
Carriers are punitive weapons; they are of little use for a real battle with a strong enemy.