{"id":35685,"date":"2020-01-08T21:36:32","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T21:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/08\/timeline-set-to-get-troubled-flattop-ford-to-sea\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:07:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:07:30","slug":"timeline-set-to-get-troubled-flattop-ford-to-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2020\/01\/08\/timeline-set-to-get-troubled-flattop-ford-to-sea\/","title":{"rendered":"Timeline set to get troubled flattop Ford to sea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The New Year is bringing a revamped effort by Big Navy to transform the delayed and over-budget aircraft carrier <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/24\/secnav-lawmaker-trade-barbs-on-ford-flattop-woes\/\" target=_blank>Gerald R. Ford<\/a> from albatross to operational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.public.navy.mil\/bupers-npc\/reference\/messages\/Documents\/ALNAVS\/ALN2019\/ALN19091.txt\" target=_blank>Dec. 20 message to the fleet<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navy.mil\/navydata\/bios\/navybio.asp?bioID=1031\" target=_blank>Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly<\/a> laid out a timeline to reach key goals, from flight deck certification to fixing faulty weapons elevators and commencing <a href=\"https:\/\/ui.adsabs.harvard.edu\/abs\/2016AGUFM.S31A2716J\/abstract\" target=_blank>a full ship shock trial<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modly also slated a \u201cMake FORD Ready\u201d summit for Thursday designed to bring private industry and military minds together to finally fix the flattop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWith the successful completion of (the Ford\u2019s) Post Shakedown Availability and subsequent Independent Steaming Events, finishing our work and delivering this capability to the fleet as quickly and effectively as possible is one of my highest priorities,\u201d Modly wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Thursday\u2019s summit concludes, Modly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/video\/2019\/08\/26\/gilday-takes-over-as-cno-as-the-navy-faces-challenges\/\" target=_blank>Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday<\/a> and other Pentagon leaders will receive monthly status updates on the carrier\u2019s progress, he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe FORD is just the first ship of this new class. It must set the standard for those that will follow and with our diligence and commitment, it will,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet\u2019s finish the job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/24\/secnav-lawmaker-trade-barbs-on-ford-flattop-woes\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"146\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford.jpg_2ff49c.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">SECNAV, lawmaker trade barbs on Ford flattop woes<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Billed as the first of a new generation of floating American airfields, the carrier was slated for delivery in 2015, but was not turned over to the Navy and christened until 2017.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plagued by delays and cutting-edge equipment that does not work, Ford\u2019s cost was initially capped at $10.5 billion but ballooned to more than $13 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/fas.org\/sgp\/crs\/weapons\/RS20643.pdf\" target=_blank>Congressional Research Service<\/a> warned last year that the price could increase even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe American taxpayers have invested significant capital into this ship and they deserve nothing less,\u201d Modly said in his message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are going to make FORD ready with all hands on deck, as one team, relentlessly focused on achieving the following tasks and timelines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2019\/12\/09\/for-the-us-navy-its-all-hands-on-deck-to-fix-the-ford\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"146\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ford.jpg_2ff49c.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">For the US Navy, it\u2019s \u2018all hands on deck\u2019 to fix the Ford<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">As its shipbuilder works to fix lingering technology issues, Ford heads into its flight deck certification and testing period.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The milestones set by Modly in his message include finishing all aircraft compatibility testing by the end of March, the same deadline for when the Navy reaches and maintains \u201cship visual and material conditions to the highest standards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By June, the flight deck certifications must be completed and manning levels set to support \u201call planned operations for key events and deployment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before September ends, two of Ford\u2019s lower stage elevators must be completed so that weapons can be moved from the warship\u2019s magazines. The remaining five advanced weapons elevators must be finished by the end of June in 2021, prior to the full ship shock trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the end of March 2021, all maintenance documents must be delivered. Three months later, combat systems testing and certification must be finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ford\u2019s crew has until the end of 2021 to be fully trained to support certification and deployment. Three months later, all parts must be delivered to the carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy expectation is that we will work with diligence and speed to accelerate each deadline if possible,\u201d Modly added.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2020\/01\/03\/the-carrier-fords-new-arresting-gear-gets-a-stress-test\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"164\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FORD-SEA-Main.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">The aircraft carrier Ford\u2019s new arresting gear gets a stress test<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">General Atomics put the advanced arresting gear through combat-like conditions this past October.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ford fiasco has drawn bipartisan ire on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inhofe.senate.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\">Jim Inhofe<\/a>, an Oklahoma Republican, said last summer that the Navy\u2019s arrogance about flattop Ford <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/naval\/2019\/08\/06\/with-mounting-questions-about-cost-and-survivability-a-shifting-political-landscape-for-us-aircraft-carriers\/\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cought to be criminal.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And at an October House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee hearing, <a href=\"https:\/\/luria.house.gov\/\" target=_blank>U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria<\/a> \u2014 a Virginia Democrat and retired surface warfare officer \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/24\/secnav-lawmaker-trade-barbs-on-ford-flattop-woes\/\" target=_blank>grilled the brass<\/a> on the Ford\u2019s long journey to operational status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.navy.mil\/navydata\/bios\/navybio.asp?bioID=461\" target=_blank>Vice Adm. Thomas Moore<\/a>, head of Naval Sea Systems Command, conceded during the hearing that Ford was supposed to deploy in 2018, but the sea service is now working to go to sea by 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Luria lamented the Navy\u2019s lack of answers and questioned the money spent on a carrier she called a $13 billion \u201cnuclear powered floating barge that\u2019s not deployable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Modly\u2019s predecessor, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/10\/24\/secnav-lawmaker-trade-barbs-on-ford-flattop-woes\/\" target=_blank>Richard Spencer<\/a>, sometimes bristled at lawmaker frustration over the Ford, Modly told Defense News this week that he thinks the Ford\u2019s failure to deploy until 2024 \u201cis not acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of the things I did since taking this seat is put the entire Department of the Navy on notice that the Ford is a priority to me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s not good for the Navy to have our most expensive asset be a poster child for what we can\u2019t do right,\u201d Modly added. \u201cIt\u2019s a complicated ship, it\u2019s going to be an amazing ship once everything is working, and we all need to make sure that\u2019s the case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To meet his deadlines, Modly pointed to a series of \u201cconcrete steps\u201d the sea service has taken, including moving Rear Adm. James Downey \u2014 the head of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.secnav.navy.mil\/rda\/Pages\/PEO_Carriers.aspx\" target=_blank>Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers<\/a> \u2014 to Newport News permanently \u201cso that he can be the accountable party.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Norfolk-based Fleet Forces Command also has assigned a two-star to \u201cmake sure we\u2019re headed in the right direction,\u201d Modly said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the head of Program Executive Office Carriers.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a message last month to the fleet, the Acting SECNAV pushed for a renewed sense of urgency to deploy the 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