Through an official communication issued yesterday, the U.S. Navy announced the official names of its future fifth and sixth nuclear-powered aircraft carriers of the Gerald R. Ford class, namely CVN 82 and CVN 83. Specifically, the carriers will be named after former U.S. Presidents William J. Clinton and George W. Bush, respectively, with Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division in charge of their construction.

Quoting statements from U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro: “Their legacy will endure through these carriers, which serve as formidable platforms dedicated to safeguarding our national security and strengthening our resolve to protect this nation against anyone who threatens our freedoms and way of life.”
It is worth noting that the new Gerald R. Ford-class carriers are intended to replace the U.S. Navy’s current Nimitz-class carriers. At present, only one ship of the class is in active service (USS Gerald R. Ford), while three others are still under construction (USS John F. Kennedy, USS Enterprise, and USS Doris Miller). According to previously shared information, the second ship of the class, USS John F. Kennedy, is expected to enter service this year as it undergoes the final stages of construction at the shipyard.

Finally, recalling some known features of these new U.S. nuclear-powered carriers, they are vessels displacing approximately 100,000 tons, with a length of 337 meters and a beam of 77 meters (including the flight deck). Each carrier is capable of operating an air wing of up to 90 aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornets, F-35Cs, E-2 Hawkeyes, and SH-60 Seahawks, among others. Additionally, the Gerald R. Ford class will feature Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS), a modern AN/SPY-3 dual-band radar, and RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles for defense.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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