USS Gerald R. Ford has been handed over to the US Navy, which is considered the world's most expensive and most advanced carrier.
US $ 13 billion USS USS Gerald R. Ford was officially handed over to the US Navy on July 22. US President Donald Trump has said the carrier was the most expensive warship ever built, to be the center of American power abroad.
The handover ceremony was attended by President Trump, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Susan Ford Bales, patron and daughter of Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States.
The ship was built in 2009 and is scheduled to be completed by 2015. However, this has been delayed due to the state-of-the-art systems and technology making the budget over budget.
The helicopter carrying President Trump attended the handover ceremony on board. The White House boss called USS Gerald R. Ford "the 100,000-ton message" that the United States sent to the world, and that Washington's enemies would be frightened whenever they saw the silhouette of the ship cross the horizon.
After the official handover ceremony, the super carrier will undergo several months of additional testing at sea to remedy the shortcomings. The vessel will then receive 75 aircraft before deploying its first combat mission in 2020.
The Ford class aircraft carrier is capable of carrying more aircraft than the Nimitz class while using fewer crews due to the use of a variety of automation technologies. This is considered the pride of President Trump.
The new aircraft carrier is part of the White House's defense investment plan. The US Navy expects to spend $ 81.3 billion to build 38 warships, including plans to replace Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarines. Purchase additional nine Virginia class nuclear attack submarines, 10 Arleigh Burke class destroyers, and several other surface ships. By 2021, the US Navy will have a force of about 308 warships.
President Trump at the handover ceremony on July 22.