After nearly a year-and-a-half of delays, the Navy's newest aircraft carrier named after former President Gerald Ford could be ready for use in April.
According to Military.com, the Gerald R. Ford was originally scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in September 2015. Now, the Navy is saying the ship will be ready for sea trials in March and April, with delivery expected sometime in April — assuming sea trials go well and the ship is deemed worthy to serve.
Construction on the nuclear-powered ship is 99 percent finished, according to the report, and testing on various systems is 90 percent finished.
The Gerald R. Ford is being built in Newport News, Va. and carries a price tag of $12.9 billion. It has suffered problems with its takeoff and landing systems for jets, weapons elevators, and radar systems, which have led to several delays.
The ship was christened in 2013 and will be the most technologically advanced carrier in the U.S. fleet.
The Navy Times reported last month that the Gerald R. Ford is slated to be deployed in 2021.
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