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Navy review puts future of highest-tech US aircraft carriers in question
Navy Secretary John Phelan said the review will examine design and launch systems as the service weighs future carrier purchases.
- On Tuesday, Navy budget documents omitted Ford-class carriers, prompting Navy Secretary John Phelan to launch a design and cost review. Phelan did not rule out canceling future versions of the high-tech aircraft carrier.
- President Donald Trump has long criticized Ford-class magnetic catapults, claiming they "didn't work" during Oval Office remarks last year. He proposed the Trump-class battleship as an alternative, estimated to cost more than $17 billion.
- The USS Gerald has been on a record-setting deployment of more than 300 days since June 2025, supporting the capture of Venezuelan leader Maduro and military actions in Iran. The Navy praised the ship as "battle-proven."
- Phelan adopted the Ronald Reagan school of "trust and verify," describing the review as a prudent move to examine carrier systems and requirements. The assessment should be complete next month.
- The review includes two future carriers, the USS William Jefferson Clinton and the USS George, which the Biden administration planned but has not yet contracted. Future orders remain uncertain pending the assessment outcome.
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Navy review puts future of highest-tech U.S. aircraft carriers in question
The U.S. Navy is reviewing the design and costs of one of its most high-tech and expensive warships - the Ford-class aircraft carrier - and the service's top boss is not ruling out canceling future versions of its design.
·United States
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Navy reviewing Ford design baseline to 'increase lethality'
The Navy is reviewing the design baseline for aircraft carrier William Clinton (CVN-82) to "further increase lethality" before deciding how to proceed with procurement of Clinton and George Bush (CVN-83), a Navy official told Inside Defense. Clinton and Bush are the planned fifth and sixth vessels in the Ford class, which have yet to be put on contract. After completing this design baseline review, the Navy will determine its procurement approac…
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Total News Sources25
Leaning Left7Leaning Right3Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 35%
C 50%
15%
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