Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DEFEA 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • DSEI Japan 2023
    • NAVDEX 2023
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»Advanced Weapons Elevators completed aboard USS Gerald R. Ford
IMDEX Asia 2023
USS Gerald R Ford Advanced Weapons Elevators
Aviation Ordnancemen assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) weapons department bring inert training bombs up to the flight deck during flight operations May 30, 2020. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting integrated air wing operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist RJ Stratchko)

Advanced Weapons Elevators completed aboard USS Gerald R. Ford

On December 22, the 11th and final Advanced Weapons Elevator (AWE) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) was turned over to the Ship’s Crew.

Naval News Staff 23 Dec 2021

NAVSEA press release

AWEs on this first-of-class aircraft carrier operate using several advanced technologies including electromagnetic motors vice more labor intensive, hydraulic systems.  The advanced technology enables fewer sailors to safely move ordnance from weapons magazines to the flight deck with unparalleled speed and agility.

“This is a significant milestone for the Navy, ship, and her crew,” said Rear Adm. James P. Downey, Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers.  “With completion of this final AWE, we now have the entire system to operate and train with.”

Downey added that the Navy-Industry AWE team worked tirelessly both inport and at sea to complete the elevators to ensure the availability of needed materials and engineering expertise.  Multiple vendors have collaborated along the way to ensure seamless support to multi-shift, shipboard production efforts.

French Navy Visits CVN 78
French Armaments Procurements Agency (DGA) members view the advanced weapons elevator shaft access to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) flight deck during a ship tour, April 24, 2021. DGA executive leadership visited Ford to view the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) and advanced arresting gear (AAG) in operation, to enable France to refine the design of the Future French Carrier. Procurement of EMALS and AAG by France and the adoption of a Ford-class carrier flight deck operations model will ensure continued interoperability between both nations. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting its final independent steaming event of post-delivery test and trials. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zack Guth)

“The Navy-Industry teaming provided the opportunities for hundreds of craftsmen, technicians and engineers, working around the clock—through multiple underway and holiday periods—to get these advanced systems on line and operational,” said Downey.

The team logged this important milestone in the midst of the ship’s six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA), at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding facility in Hampton Roads, Virginia.  Gerald R. Ford is scheduled to complete the PIA this spring, followed by training and deployment.

“The end game is always operational readiness,” added Downey, “and Ford is on track to complete this PIA on schedule, conduct sea trials, and to move on to follow on tasking.”

CVN 78 US Navy USS Gerald R. Ford 2021-12-23
Tags CVN 78 US Navy USS Gerald R. Ford
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More
SAS 2023

Related Articles

MQ-4C Triton Concludes U.S. 7th Fleet Deployment

MQ-4C Triton Concludes U.S. 7th Fleet Deployment

Naval News Staff 20 Mar 2023
The US Navy has completed a three-year deployment of the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAV in the Western Pacific.
USMC Commandant Envisions  Future of Amphibious Warships

USMC Commandant Envisions Future of Amphibious Warships

Aaron-Matthew Lariosa 10 Mar 2023
Commandant of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) General David Berger laid out how he envisions the future of Amphibious Warships at the U.S. Navy Amphibious Warship Congressional Forum.
Video: Interview with VADM Cooper on TF 59 Milestones, US 5th Fleet

Video: Interview with VADM Cooper on TF 59 Milestones, US 5th Fleet

Xavier Vavasseur 04 Mar 2023
Interview with US Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper on the latest milestones of Task Force 59 (TF 59) during IDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved