The U.S. Navy’s first Ford-class aircraft carrier, the future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), completed its second set of sea trails, called acceptance trials, on May 26.
The acceptance trials are meant to demonstrate to the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) the carrier’s ability to conduct operations at sea and that the ship is constructed in accordance with contract specification. This involves operating many of the ship’s key systems and technologies.
With the completion of acceptance trials, the Ford is in its final preparations for delivery, the Navy said.
“Congratulations to our Navy and industry team for all the great work that has led us to this exciting milestone. As a result of much dedication and hard work, delivery of CVN-78 is close at hand, and we are looking forward to commissioning the ship into the fleet this summer,” Rear Adm. Brian Antonio, program executive officer for Aircraft Carriers, said in a statement.
Before the three-day at-sea portion of the trials, INSURV conducted a set of pierside trails including over 200 in-port demonstrations and inspections. The underway portion included over 500 INSURV demonstrations and inspections of the carrier’s hull, mechanical, and electric systems, the Navy said.