USS Gerald Ford
Harry J. Kazianis, National Interest: The Most Expensive Warship Ever Built Might Already Be Close to Obsolete
The U.S. Navy’s latest and greatest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, when completed, will join the ranks of the world’s most advanced warships ever put to sea. It will carry an air wing with firepower second to none. It will be defended by some of the most powerful naval vessels on the planet. And yet, coming in at an astounding $15 billion dollars—the most expensive naval vessel ever—its time as the symbol of U.S. power projection and military dominance may be over.
Notice I used the words may be over. The simple fact is this: no one really knows for sure, but the trends all point to dangerous times ahead. We do know one thing with certainty—the mighty aircraft carrier is under siege, and without major changes to its capabilities, investing billions of scarce defense dollars seems a disastrous idea.
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WNU Editor: This is not the first time that I am reading a critique on the limited range that these aircraft carriers must operate in .... but what is unfortunate is that it appears that this is a critique that the US Navy has chosen to not even listen to.