US Navy accepts delivery of ‘newest & most capable’ Gerald R. Ford supercarrier

YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS. The U.S. Navy has accepted the delivery of the $12.9 billion USS Gerald R. Ford supercarrier after 12 years of construction and testing, the service announced Thursday, The Hill reported.

“Congratulations to everyone who has helped bring [the Ford] to this historic milestone," Rear Adm. Brian Antonio, program executive officer for aircraft carriers, said in a statement. "Over the last several years, thousands of people have had a hand in delivering Ford to the Navy — designing, building and testing the Navy's newest, most capable, most advanced warship.”

The ship will be commissioned into the fleet this summer and is expected to be operational by 2020, the Navy added.

The Ford class has elicited some criticism for increasing costs over the years, growing from $27 billion to $36 billion in the last 10 years.