"USS Gerald Ford - how does it get planes airborne?" Topic
6 Posts
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 20thmaine  | 14 Feb 2025 3:24 a.m. PST |
I've just been listening to a news report from a high-level military expert who says that the electronic launch system doesn't work on the USS Gerald Ford, and that future carriers will use steam and hydraulic systems. But I've also seen reports that in 2024 there were 10,396 sorties flown from the Gerald Ford. Were these all helicopters? Genuine question – it seems confusing, if I wanted to do a modern carrier group game how should I treat this aircraft carrier? |
 Saber6  | 14 Feb 2025 6:11 a.m. PST |
F35 can VTOL IIRC could also mean it does not work as well as the older systems |
 David Manley | 14 Feb 2025 7:08 a.m. PST |
Maybe they mean it works (GF can clearly launch and recover FW aircraft), but isn't as good as hoped? That said I've not personally seen or heard anything bad about the cats so far |
| 20thmaine | 14 Feb 2025 7:19 a.m. PST |
@Saber6 : My understanding was that USS Gerald Ford deployed with Carrier Air Wing Eight which has F/A-18Es as its strike force. |
 McKinstry | 14 Feb 2025 8:36 a.m. PST |
The next Ford class in line, IIRC Enterprise, is certainly being built with EMALS as is the Chinese first true big deck carrier. It is a technology that both the navies are adopting but some teething issues are certain to arise. Steam catapults weren't very good when they first were deployed. |
 aegiscg47 | 14 Feb 2025 10:04 a.m. PST |
So, the catapults and arresting gear (which are electromagnetic) do work…from time to time. The article I saw said that for the arresting gear there should be 16,500 cycles between breakdowns, but currently it's averaging 450 cycles between breakdowns. Also, the jet blast deflectors have had issues as well as a host of electrical problems. This means that the Ford can launch and retrieve aircraft, but not as efficiently as it should be. Also, the VTOL version of the F-35 is only for the Marines and are used on assault ships. The Navy version uses the standard catapults. |
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