Joanna Crews
The U.S. Navy has brought an aircraft carrier at Huntington Ingalls Industries‘ Newport News Shipbuilding division Saturday for a 12-month maintenance and repair phase after completing an 81-day post-delivery test and evaluation period.
The post-shakedown availability or selected restricted availability for the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) follows almost 750 aircraft launches and recoveries from the ship for fixed and rotary-wing integration and compatibility tests and air traffic control center and JP-5 fuel system certifications, the Naval Sea Systems Command said Sunday.
Rear Adm. Brian Antonio, program executive officer for aircraft carriers, said the post-delivery test and trial operations after the ship’s delivery on May 31 helped identify construction and design updates for implementation before the ship’s return to the fleet.
The trials conducted through eight independent steaming events also included propulsion plant operations, dual-band radar tests and demonstrations of the ship’s defense system, and day and night underway replenishment features.
The PSA/SRA will cover updates to the Advanced Arresting Gear, construction of the Advanced Weapons Elevator, other combat systems installations, and deferred work and services for repairs identified through the trials.
Further tests in preparation for the ship’s initial operational evaluation and deployment will include full-ship shock trials.
“One year ago this month we commissioned USS Gerald R. Ford,” said Rear Adm. Roy Kelley, commander of the Naval Air Force Atlantic, adding that he anticipates the ship’s operations at sea.
