What You Need to Know: The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is the most expensive warship ever built, with a price tag of $13.3 billion. As the lead vessel of a new class of nuclear-powered supercarriers, it features advanced technologies like the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and boasts greater automation, reducing crew size and maintenance costs.

-Despite its innovations, the ship faced significant teething issues, including toilet clogs, malfunctioning ordnance elevators, and other system problems, attributed to the learning curve of a first-in-class vessel.

-Over its lifecycle, the Ford-class promises to deliver improved lethality, cost efficiency, and reduced crew workload, though decommissioning costs may pose a financial challenge in the future.

No warship ever built is as expensive as the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) – the lead vessel of a new class of nuclear-powered supercarriers. As the largest warship ever constructed in terms of displacement, CVN-78 is an impressive vessel that will likely serve as in a power projection role throughout the world for decades to come.

Its total price tag came in at about $13.3 billion, nearly 30 percent higher than initial estimates. It........

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