Abstract The U.S. Navy maintains a fleet of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers as the cornerstone of its global power projection capability, with the Gerald R. Ford-class program designed explicitly to replace the aging Nimitz-class carriers on a one-for-one basis while incorporating advanced technologies intended to enhance sortie generation rates, reduce crew requirements, and lower long-term operating … Leggi tutto U.S. Navy Gerald R. Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier Program Reassessment: Technological Innovation, Procurement Realities and Strategic Force Structure Imperatives in an Era of Great Power Competition