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USS Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier vs USS Nimitz Aircraft Carrier

	USS Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Aircraft Carrier Select Product

Price
Our Rating	8.3 8.3
Manufacturer	Huntington Ingalls Industries Huntington Ingalls Industries
Category	Aircraft Carriers Aircraft Carriers

1. Physical Characteristics

Ship Type	Aircraft Carrier Aircraft Carrier
Class	Ford-class Nimitz-class
Length	337 m 333 m
Beam (Width)	78 m 41 m
Flight Deck Width	78 m 76 m
Draft	12 m 11.3 m
Displacement (Full Load)	100,000+ tons 100,000+ tons

2. Propulsion & Performance

Propulsion Type	Nuclear Nuclear
Powerplant	2 × A1B reactors 2 × A4W nuclear reactors
Shafts	4 4 shafts
Maximum Speed	30+ knots 30+ knots
Range	Unlimited Unlimited
Endurance	90 days at sea 70–90 days at sea

3. Flight Operations

Aircraft Launch System	CATOBAR (EMALS) CATOBAR
Catapult Type	Electromagnetic (EMALS) Steam
Recovery System	Advanced arresting gear Arresting gear
Total Aircraft Capacity	75+ 60–75 aircraft
Hangar Capacity	Full-length Full-length hangar
Aircraft Types Supported	Fighters, AEW, ASW helos, transport helos Fighters, AEW, EW, ASW helos

4. Sensors & Electronics

Primary Radar	Dual-band radar systems 3D air-surveillance radar
Navigation Radar	Standard naval navigation Standard naval navigation radar
Fire Control Radar	CIWS & air defense integration Supports Sea Sparrow & CIWS
Electronic Warfare Suite	ESM, ECM, jammers ESM/ECM jammers and countermeasures
Communication Systems	SATCOM, Link-16, tactical networks SATCOM, Link-16

5. Weapons & Defense Systems

CIWS	Phalanx Phalanx CIWS
Short-Range SAMs	RAM RAM, NATO Sea Sparrow
Missile Launchers	Limited surface defense Limited surface-defense
Decoy Systems	Chaff, flares, electronic decoys Chaff, flares, EW decoys

6. Command & Control

Combat Management System	Integrated CMS Integrated U.S. Navy CMS
Combat Information Center (CIC)	Central com Central shipboard operations hub
Air Operations Center	Flight operation management Oversees flight operations
Data Links	Tactical & satellite communication Tactical & satellite systems

7. Crew & Capacity

Ship Crew	2,600 ~3,000
Air Wing Personnel	1,200 ~1,500
Total Complement	3,800–4,000+ ~5,000+

8. Construction & Cost

Shipbuilder/Manufacturer	Newport News Shipbuilding, USA Newport News Shipbuilding (USA)
Construction Started	2005 1968
Commissioned	2017 1975
Estimated Cost	$13 billion ~$5B (original era cost)

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