Repairs on the USS Gerald R. Ford engines and elevators to cost another $120 million

Last week, SOFREP reported on a previously undisclosed breakdown of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, that took place in during sea trials in January of this year. The issue, determined to be a manufacturing defect in the GE sourced main thrust bearings, resulted in two separate breakdowns, the second of which prompted an investigation into the cause.

According to the Navy’s assessment, the bearing issue extends to all four massive props used to propel the 100,000-ton vessel to a top speed that exceeds 30 knots, meaning repairs can’t be limited to the main bearing that was identified as the issue in January’s breakdown. Ship builders Huntington Ingalls were contracted by the U.S. Navy to construct the Ford, but General Electric was sub-contracted to provide the ship’s propulsion systems. A GE spokesperson, however, made it clear last week that the company was no longer under contract to produce components for Ford class carriers, including the class’s namesake, the USS Gerald R. Ford.