CVN 78 Gerald R. Ford Class Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

The CVN 78 Gerald R. Ford Class Nuclear Aircraft Carrier program is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) under Acquisition Category IC that represents the Navy's next generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The program encompasses the design, construction, testing, and deployment of advanced aircraft carrier technologies, including the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) systems. This acquisition program supports the development and production of multiple vessels within the Ford class, including CVN 78, CVN 79, and CVN 80.

Contract awards under this program range from small purchase orders of a few thousand dollars for equipment and supplies to multi-billion dollar shipbuilding contracts. The largest awards are typically made to Huntington Ingalls Inc., including a $16.8 billion contract for CVN 80 engineering and steel work and a $4.4 billion contract for CVN 79 detail design and construction. General Atomics serves as another significant prime contractor, securing multiple awards for EMALS and AAG systems development and maintenance, typically ranging from $1-30 million. Common subcontractors include Foster-Miller/Qinetiq North America, Kato Engineering Inc., and various specialized technology suppliers. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) are the primary contracting agencies. While many smaller contracts utilize small business set-asides, the major system development and ship construction contracts are unrestricted. Primary performance locations include Newport News, Virginia for shipbuilding and San Diego, California for EMALS/AAG system work.