【U.S. Accelerates Delivery of "Kennedy" Aircraft Carrier to Counter Fujian Ship】
With the commissioning of the Fujian Ship, the urgency of the U.S. military has increased. On January 6, Hagel visited Newport News Shipbuilding and confirmed that the Pentagon has decided to accelerate the construction and outfitting of the second ship of the Ford-class aircraft carrier, the "Kennedy," which is expected to be delivered and commissioned around March 2027.
According to a U.S. military media report, the first ship of the Ford class, the "Ford," participated in a special operations mission in the waters off Venezuela on January 3, providing continuous intelligence reconnaissance and electronic warfare support. This marked the first time the Ford-class aircraft carrier was deployed in combat operations, successfully verifying its multi-domain integration capabilities and the reliability of its new systems.
The Ford-class aircraft carriers are considered the biggest technological leap since the Nimitz-class carriers. Equipped with two nuclear reactors, they can generate over 100 megawatts of power, more than three times that of older carriers, perfectly supporting the "electromagnetic catapult system" and future laser weapons.
The "Kennedy" incorporated lessons learned from the first ship during its construction, optimizing software and weapon elevators. The ship can carry 75 aircraft, including the "F-35B," "Super Hornet," and drones capable of aerial refueling. These drones have been integrated into the air wing, significantly extending the range of U.S. strikes. Hagel emphasized that accelerating the deployment of the Ford-class carriers is crucial for maintaining U.S. maritime hegemony and ensuring global deterrence.
It is worth noting that the new U.S. aircraft carrier is also aimed at China's Fujian Ship. The latter has already been commissioned and successfully launched a fifth-generation stealth carrier-based aircraft. The U.S. hopes this new carrier will use electromagnetic catapults to launch the "F-35B" carrier-based aircraft, countering the Fujian Ship.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853743789504604/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.