| Publication |
2014.
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| Summary/Abstract |
Despite price-tag increases, the new Ford -class carriers won't be a boondoggle, but a boon-because ultimately, bigger = more bang for the buck.
On 9 November 2013 the nation's newest aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford , was christened and blessed at a time-honored ceremony in which the hull is first wetted by the special liquid of a bottle-now champagne-to give her good luck before launching her into the water. The Ford has been built at great expense, now estimated to be $12.9 billion inclusive of design costs. Some are surprised at the price tag and argue that it is unaffordable, and that the U.S. Navy and the shipbuilder must dramatically reduce this dollar amount if we are to continue to buy and build these ships. Now that we have christened the Ford and can see her, it is a good time to review why we built her, why three administrations-two Democrat (Clinton/Obama) and one Republican (Bush-43)-as well as seven Congresses (106th-112th) have initially approved not only the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), but also the John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), and the Enterprise (CVN-80).
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