The Navy has again delayed its completion of critical work on the new aircraft carrier the USS Gerald R. Ford, Breaking Defense reported Tuesday.
James Geurts, Navy acquisitions secretary, announced the delay, saying the primary issue is its new weapons elevators which are magnet-driven rather than by cables on Nimitz-class carriers. The new elevators can lift thousands of pounds of munitions to the deck more quickly than older carriers.
The carrier is billions over budget and months overdue.
Two of the carrier’s 11 elevators are currently operational as the ship remains on track for going to sea in October while work on the inoperable elevators continues. It had been slated to sail in July, but that was postponed when it became clear the elevators would not operate.
The new elevators are a leap in technology. The Nimitz-class elevators move 10,500 pounds at 100 feet per minute while the Ford-class elevators lift 20,000 pounds at 150 feet per minute.
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Marissa Bacon
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