{"id":32989,"date":"2019-01-24T02:15:37","date_gmt":"2019-01-24T02:15:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/01\/24\/once-beleaguered-by-critics-the-ford-gets-a-lift\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:25:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:25:49","slug":"once-beleaguered-by-critics-the-ford-gets-a-lift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/01\/24\/once-beleaguered-by-critics-the-ford-gets-a-lift\/","title":{"rendered":"Once beleaguered by critics, the Ford gets a lift"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford<\/a> is now closer than ever to becoming an operational flattop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crew has taken charge of the first of the high-tech warship\u2019s 11 Advanced Weapons Elevators and a second lift isn\u2019t far behind in the building, testing and certification process, Navy officials say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, this year the Ford should have all 11 elevators working, according to an official announcement last week shortly before a visit to Norfolk by Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer<\/a> and James Geurts<\/a>, the civilian leader in charge of the service\u2019s research, development and acquisition programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill grilled Guerts in November about the Ford\u2019s elevators and other gadgets that have been bedeviled by gremlins since the carrier\u2019s 2017 commissioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ford also has faced problems with its Advanced Arresting Gear and Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EMALS has long been a source of disgruntlement<\/a> to President Donald J. Trump, who repeatedly has bashed<\/a> the digital replacement to steam catapults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Pentagon officials insist that both EMALS and the Advanced Arresting Gear should be fully operational when the Ford returns to the sea this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\t