Haze gray and under way…
Finally, a boat big enough even for Donald Trump! President praises ‘newest, largest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the history of this world’ as he launches the $12.9billion warship that can sail for 20 years without refuelling
President Donald Trump helped commission the USS Gerald R. Ford on Saturday and declared that the most advanced aircraft carrier to join the Navy will cause America’s enemies to ‘shake with fear’ whenever they see its form cutting across the horizon.
Trump, who visited the carrier in March to promote his plans for a military buildup, told Time magazine this year that the Navy should revert to using steam catapults to launch fighter jets because some of the state-of-the-art systems and technology aboard the USS Ford ‘costs hundreds of millions of dollars more money and it’s no good.’
Construction on the USS Ford started in 2009 and was to be completed by September 2015 at a cost of $10.5 billion. The Navy has attributed the delays and budget overruns to the ship’s state-of-the-art systems and technology, including electromagnetic launch systems for jets and drones that will replace steam catapults.