Gerald R. Ford’s shock trials reach an explosive end
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford completes the third and final scheduled explosive event for Full Ship Shock Trials while underway in the Atlantic Ocean. (Photo: USN)
The USN conducts shock trials of new ship designs to ensure that vessels meet mission requirements and withstand battle conditions.
USN aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has conducted a third and final explosive event, bringing an end to the ship’s Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST).
The USN uses shock trials to validate the ability of a ship to sustain operations during simulated combat with live ordnance.
During the tests, Ford endured the impact of three 40,000lb detonations at distances sequentially closer to the ship.
USN future aircraft carrier programme office manager CAPT Brian Metcalf said: ‘The Navy designed the Ford-class carrier using advanced computer modelling methods, testing, and analysis to ensure the ships are hardened to withstand harsh battle conditions,’
Metcalf added that the demonstrations proved to the crew that the carrier would sustain significant shock and operate in ‘extreme conditions’.
Ford will now begin six months of Planned Incremental Availability in the US’ Tidewater region.
Personnel will conduct detailed assessments of any damage caused during the shock trials ahead of the vessel’s deployment in 2022.
FSSTs are conducted to a precise operating schedule and feature strong requirements on mitigating environmental impacts, including the known migration patterns of marine life.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Gerald R. Ford Class (CVN 79 to CVN 81) [USN]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Russian vessels exercise in English Channel and off Irish coast]()
Russian vessels exercise in English Channel and off Irish coast
One of the vessels present in both cases was armed with hypersonic cruise missiles.
-
![Australia narrows SEA 3000 frigate designs to TKMS and MHI]()
Australia narrows SEA 3000 frigate designs to TKMS and MHI
Two modular frigate designs will be considered as the replacement to Australia’s ageing Anzac-class.
-
![Latest Arleigh Burke destroyer commissioned]()
Latest Arleigh Burke destroyer commissioned
The vessel, DDG 122, will be named after enlisted marine John Basilone.
-
![Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract]()
Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract
The contract could rise to as much as US$1.1 billion and follows an announcement last month that Kongsberg was building a missile production facility in the US to meet burgeoning global demand.
-
![New US Navy batteries are deemed submarine-safe]()
New US Navy batteries are deemed submarine-safe
The use of Passive Propagation Technology significantly reduces the risk of Lithium-ion batteries for use in torpedo tube launched AUVs.
-
![BAE Systems’ Herne XLAUV set to hunt for underwater intelligence]()
BAE Systems’ Herne XLAUV set to hunt for underwater intelligence
The Herne is modular, highly configurable underwater autonomous platform, with potential for both ISR missions in the short term and self-determined assistance surveillance later.
