All language subtitles for Carriers at War Series 1 4of4 USS Ford 1080p

Narrator: THE USS GERALD R. FORD
SUPERCARRIER.

IT’S THE MOST ADVANCED
\hWARSHIP EVER BUILT.

Man: ITS SIZE AND ITS COMPLEXITY

\hAND ITS MISSION
ARE JUST AMAZING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
13 YEARS IN THE MAKING,

IT’S THE ULTIMATE EVOLUTION
\h\h\h\hOF NAVAL TECHNOLOGY.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: IT WILL DEPLOY
AS A MONSTROUSLY CAPABLE SHIP.

[CHEERING]

Narrator: THIS $14 BILLION SHIP
WAS DESIGNED

WITH A MIGHTY PROMISE:

[BOOM]

TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY
\h\h\h\hTHE NAVY FIGHTS.

\h\h\hMan: IT MEANS
A QUICKER TURNAROUND

TO GET AIRCRAFT OFF THE SHIP
\hAND TO DO THEIR MISSIONS.

Narrator: TO BUILD IT,
\hA TEAM OF THOUSANDS

\h\h\h\hALL WORKING TOWARD
THE SAME GOAL AND MISSION.

Man: I’VE NEVER WORKED
WITH A MORE DETERMINED

\h\h\h\h\hAND MOTIVATED GROUP OF
INDIVIDUALS IN MY ENTIRE CAREER.

Narrator: THEIR CHALLENGE:
\h\hTO PROVE THAT THE FORD

IS THE SHIP OF THE FUTURE.

\h\h\hMan: IT’S POSSIBLE
THAT THE NEW TECHNOLOGY

MIGHT NOT WORK.

Man: WE KNEW GOING INTO THIS

IT WAS GOING TO BE
A DIFFICULT SHIP.

♪

♪

Narrator: JULY 2017.

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

CROWDS GATHER ALONGSIDE

\h\h\hTHE U.S. NAVY’S NEW
$14 BILLION SUPERCARRIER,

THE USS GERALD R. FORD.

1,100 FEET LONG, 250 FEET HIGH,

\hTHE FORD WEIGHS AS MUCH
AS 400 STATUES OF LIBERTY:

NEARLY 100,000 TONS.

TODAY, SHE WILL BE COMMISSIONED
INTO THE NAVY:

THE FIRST NEW AIRCRAFT CARRIER
\h\h\hDESIGN IN OVER 40 YEARS.

THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART SHIP
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS DESIGNED

\h\h\hTO MEET THE NEEDS
OF A 21st-CENTURY NAVY.

\hSHE’LL CARRY MORE
AIRCRAFT AND WEAPONS

THAN ANY NAVAL VESSEL ON EARTH.

Bryan McGrath: THE FORD WILL
\h\h\hBE ABLE TO DO THE JOB

\h\hAT A GREATER CAPACITY THAN
ANY AIRCRAFT CARRIER BEFORE IT

HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO DO.

Narrator: A SUPERCARRIER:

IT’S THE ULTIMATE SYMBOL
\h\hOF MILITARY MIGHT...

A MOBILE AIRFIELD

THAT ALLOWS A COUNTRY
\h\hTO BRING THE FIGHT

RIGHT TO THE ENEMY’S DOORSTEP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJames Rentfrow:
90% OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION

LIVES WITHIN 100 MILES
\h\h\h\h\hOF A COAST.

\h\hA CARRIER CAN IMPACT ALL
OF THOSE POPULATION CENTERS

AND REACH OUT AND TOUCH

\hJUST ABOUT ANY STRATEGICALLY
IMPORTANT PLACE IN THE WORLD.

♪

[EXPLOSIONS]

♪

Narrator: 12 MILES AWAY
\h\h\h\hFROM THE COAST,

THE OCEAN IS CONSIDERED
\h\h\h"GLOBAL COMMONS."

A POWERFUL NAVY ALLOWS A COUNTRY
TO USE THAT GLOBAL COMMONS

AS A BUFFER BETWEEN
\h\hITSELF AND WAR.

Rentfrow: THE NAVY PREFERS
\h\hTO PLAY AN AWAY GAME.

\h\h\hHAVING THE FIGHT HAPPEN
OUT AWAY FROM OUR HOME WATERS

IS DESIRABLE.

Narrator: BRINGING THAT FIGHT:
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE STRIKE GROUP,

MADE UP OF CRUISERS...

DESTROYERS...

AND SUBMARINES,

ALL SUPPORTED BY A SUPPLY SHIP.

Rentfrow: A STRIKE GROUP
\hIS JUST A COMBAT UNIT

\h\h\h\hTHAT CAN BE SENT OUT
TO PERFORM VARIOUS MISSIONS.

\hIT GIVES A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY
TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

Narrator: THE CRUISERS ARE ONE
OF THE LARGEST COMBAT VESSELS

IN THE U.S. NAVY.

\hEACH ONE IS ALMOST
10,000 TONS OF POWER

WITH A RANGE OF WEAPONS
\h\h\h\hAT ITS SERVICE.

[BOOM]

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

THE STRIKE GROUP’S DESTROYERS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE FAST,

MANEUVERABLE,

AND EFFECTIVE.

Man on loudspeaker:
\h\h\h\h\h\hLAUNCH!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THEIR MOST POWERFUL WEAPON:

\h\h\h\hTHE TOMAHAWK
LAND CRUISE MISSILE.

THIS HALF A MILLION-DOLLAR
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMENACE

CAN CARRY A 1,000-POUND WARHEAD
ALMOST 1,500 NAUTICAL MILES.

♪

ON THE STRIKE GROUP’S PERIMETER:

\h\hA SUBMARINE HUNTING FOR
ENEMY SHIPS AND OTHER SUBS.

\h\h\h\h\hITS MARK 48
HEAVYWEIGHT TORPEDOES

PACK A 650-POUND PUNCH.

[EXPLOSION]

♪

A SUPPLY SHIP SUPPORTS
\h\hTHE STRIKE GROUP,

DELIVERING FOOD...

FUEL...

AND AMMUNITION.

\h\h\hIN THE CENTER
OF THE STRIKE GROUP:

THE CARRIER...

BRINGING $3.5 BILLION WORTH
\h\h\hOF HIGH-TECH AIRCRAFT.

Rentfrow: AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS THE SHIP

THAT HAS THE MAIN COMBAT POWER,

AND IT’S ALSO TYPICALLY
THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE.

THE REASON THEY CALL IT
\h\h\hA CAPITAL WARSHIP

IS BECAUSE THAT IT REPRESENTS
\h\h\h\h\hA CAPITAL INVESTMENT

BY THE NATION IN THAT SHIP.

Narrator: THERE ARE
\h\hJUST 19 CARRIERS

SAILING THE WORLD’S WATERS.

ONLY EIGHT COUNTRIES HAVE ONE
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THEIR ARSENAL.

Rentfrow: THE UNITED STATES HAS
THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE THE MOST,

\h\h\hBUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT
OTHER COUNTRIES DON’T WANT THEM.

Narrator: THE COUNTRY
WITH THE MOST CARRIERS

\hHAS ALWAYS BEEN
THE UNITED STATES.

Rentfrow: WE HAD SOMETHING
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE ORDER

\h\hOF 100 AIRCRAFT CARRIERS AT
THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR,

BUT ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER

WOULD NOT HAVE HAD NEARLY
\h\h\h\h\hTHE COMBAT POWER

THAT A SINGLE CARRIER
\h\hWOULD HAVE TODAY.

Narrator: IN 1955 THE NEWLY
\h\hDESIGNED FORRESTAL CLASS

\hBECOMES THE NAVY’S
FIRST SUPERCARRIERS,

\h\h\hSETTING THE STANDARD FOR
THE U.S. CARRIERS THAT FOLLOW.

Rentfrow: THE FORRESTAL ARE
OUR FIRST AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

\h\hTHAT ARE IN EXCESS
OF 75,000 GROSS TONS,

WHICH IS SORT OF THE DEFINITION
OF A SUPERCARRIER.

THEY’RE THE FIRST ONES THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO CARRY THESE AIRCRAFT

\hTHAT HAVE THE CAPABILITY
TO CARRY NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

Narrator: THE FORRESTAL DESIGN
\hIS FOLLOWED BY FOUR CARRIERS

IN THE KITTY HAWK CLASS...

THE SINGLE SHIP ENTERPRISE...

AND 10 NIMITZ-CLASS CARRIERS...

ALL BRINGING AMERICAN AIR POWER
TO WHEREVER IT’S NEEDED.

[JET ENGINES ROARING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE NAVY MAINTAINS
AT LEAST 15 AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

THROUGHOUT THE COLD WAR.

[JETS ROARING]

BUT THE COLD WAR
EVENTUALLY ENDS.

IN 1993, THE FORRESTAL CLASS
\h\h\h\hBEGINS TO RETIRE...

AND THE NUMBER OF CARRIERS
\h\h\h\h\hBEGINS TO DROP.

NAVY BRASS FEAR THAT SOON ENOUGH

THEY WON’T BE ABLE
\hTO DO THEIR JOB.

McGrath: THE NAVY HAS
TRADITIONALLY OPERATED

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS IN TWO PLACES:

ONE IS IN THE ARABIAN GULF/
\h\h\h\hINDIAN OCEAN REGION;

\h\hTHE SECOND IS IN
THE WESTERN PACIFIC.

BECAUSE OUR NATION
\h\hIS SO FAR AWAY

FROM WHERE THOSE LOCATIONS ARE,

\h\h\h\h\hYOU HAVE TO HAVE
AN ASSEMBLY LINE OF SHIPS

IN VARIOUS STAGES OF READINESS.

\h\hYOU HAVE THE TWO
THAT ARE ON STATION,

YOU HAVE TWO THAT
JUST LEFT STATION.

\h\h\h\hYOU HAVE TWO
THAT ARE WORKING UP.

\hYOU HAVE TWO THAT
ARE IN MAINTENANCE,

AND YOU HAVE ONE THAT IS
IN A FOUR-YEAR OVERHAUL.

TO FILL TWO STATIONS REQUIRES

\h\hESSENTIALLY 11
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

THAT’S THE MATH.

♪

Narrator: BY THE EARLY 2000s,

IT’S CLEAR THAT THE REST
\hOF THE NAVY’S CARRIERS

ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW THEIR AGE.

Rentfrow: THERE COMES A TIME
\h\h\hWHEN YOU CAN’T AFFORD

TO KEEP THE SHIPS IN SERVICE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hANY LONGER

BECAUSE IT JUST SIMPLY COSTS
\hTOO MUCH TO MAINTAIN THEM.

McGrath: WE BUILD
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

\h\hFOR ESSENTIALLY
50-YEAR LIFE SPANS.

THE NAVAL ARCHITECTS DETERMINED

THAT WE REALLY DID
\hNEED A NEW SHIP.

\hNarrator: IN 2008, CONGRESS
AWARDS A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT

FOR A RADICALLY NEW DESIGN,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOR CLASS.

IT WILL CALL THIS CLASS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE FORD.

McGrath: THE FORD CLASS IS NAMED
AFTER PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD,

WHO WAS A NAVAL OFFICER
\h\h\h\hIN WORLD WAR II.

\h\h\hRentfrow: IN GENERAL,
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS ARE NAMED

FOR PRESIDENTS, SO I THINK
\hTHAT IT WAS APPROPRIATE.

\h\h\hNarrator: CONGRESS EXPECTS
THE NEW SHIP TO DELIVER IN 2015.

NOW ALL THE NAVY HAS TO DO
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS BUILD IT.

NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

IF YOU WANT TO BUILD
AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

THIS IS THE PLACE TO DO IT.

THIS 20-MILE STRETCH
\h\h\h\hOF COASTLINE

IS HOME TO HUNTINGTON INGALLS’
\h\hNEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING.

IT’S ONE OF JUST TWO PLACES
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD

\hADVANCED ENOUGH TO BUILD
NUCLEAR-POWERED WARSHIPS.

Mike Butler: WE’VE BEEN BUILDING
CARRIERS SINCE THE 1930s,

SO, OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE
\h\hPERFECTED THE BUSINESS

OF BUILDING AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

Narrator: THIS MASSIVE
\h\h550-ACRE SHIPYARD

EMPLOYS OVER 20,000 PEOPLE,
\hWORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.

\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE BUILT 70%
OF THE NATION’S WARSHIPS.

♪

\h\h\hTHE CENTERPIECE
OF CARRIER OPERATIONS

IS A PLACE CALLED DRY DOCK 12.

AT 2,200 FEET LONG
AND 250 FEET WIDE,

IT’S THE LARGEST DRY DOCK
IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

IN NOVEMBER 2009,

\h\h\h\hTHE USS FORD
BEGINS CONSTRUCTION.

THE FIRST PIECE IS THE KEEL,
\hOR THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIP.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHREE YEARS LATER,
IT STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.

\h\h\h\h\hGeoff Hummel:
THE CARRIER IS ACTUALLY

IN A HEAVY STEEL CONSTRUCTION
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPHASE RIGHT NOW.

\h\h\hYOU CAN SEE A LOT
OF STEEL PARTS GOING UP.

EVERY DAY WE’LL BE
\h\hADDING PIECES.

WE’RE ACTUALLY ABOUT

WHAT WE CALL THIRD DECK,
\h\h\hSECOND DECK AREA.

\h\hSO WE’RE ABOVE
THE WATERLINE NOW,

BUT WE’RE NOT EVEN AT HANGAR BAY
AT THIS POINT.

Narrator: 4 MILLION POUNDS
\h\h\h\h\h\hOF WELD METAL.

13 MILLION FEET OF CABLE.

90,000 PIPE DETAILS.

\h\h\h\hWHEN YOU’RE BUILDING
A STATE-OF-THE-ART WARSHIP,

ALL THE NUMBERS ARE BIG.

Butler: THE SHIP HAS
\hMILLIONS OF PARTS.

IT’S AN EXTRAORDINARY
\h\hAMOUNT OF MATERIAL

THAT GOES INTO THE SHIP.

♪

Narrator: PARTS AND MATERIALS
COME FROM OVER 5,000 SUPPLIERS

IN 48 STATES.

TODAY, THEY RECEIVE
A SHIPMENT OF STEEL.

[SIREN]

\h\h\hTHE STEEL SHOP IS ONE
OF THE LARGEST MACHINE SHOPS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD:
OVER 10 FOOTBALL FIELDS IN SIZE.

Butler: IT’S BEEN HERE
\h\h\hSINCE THE 1880s,

WE’VE MODIFIED IT
\hOVER THE YEARS.

IT CURRENTLY INCLUDES SOME
OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED

HEAVY MACHINING EQUIPMENT
\h\h\h\hTHAT YOU CAN BUY.

Narrator: TO HANDLE THE SIZE AND
WEIGHT OF THE FORD’S MATERIALS,

THE SHIPYARD INVESTED IN

OVER $700 MILLION WORTH
OF HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT.

TODAY, ONE OF THEM PUTS DIMPLES
INTO A MASSIVE STEEL PLATE.

\hBarry Fallon: THIS IS OUR
LARGEST HEAVY FORMING PRESS.

IT’S 5,000 TONS.

\hSO TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA
HOW MUCH FORCE THAT IS,

MY PICKUP TRUCK WEIGHS
\h\h\h\h5,000 POUNDS.

THIS PRESS PUSHES
WITH ENOUGH FORCE

\h\h\hTO LIFT 2,000
OF MY PICKUP TRUCKS.

Narrator: THE DIMPLES WILL BE
\h\hUSED TO KEEP NAVY AIRCRAFT

TETHERED TO THE FORD’S DECK.

THE SHIPYARD MUST MAKE
\hOVER 7,000 OF THEM.

\hFallon: THIS ENTIRE PRESS AND
HEAVY PLATE BAY WAS PUT IN HERE

\h\hAS AN INVESTMENT FOR
THE FORD-CLASS CARRIERS.

IT IS SO MASSIVE IT CAN COMPRESS
IT ALL IN ONE MOTION.

SO A VERY GOOD ADVANCEMENT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR US.

Narrator: AS EACH PLATE
\h\h\h\h\h\hIS FINISHED,

\hIT MOVES TO AN AREA OF THE
SHIPYARD CALLED THE PLATEN,

WHERE IT’S WELDED
\hTO OTHER PLATES

TO MAKE UP THE CARRIER’S ROOMS.

\hINDIVIDUAL ROOMS ARE
COMBINED INTO MODULES,

CREATING LARGE SECTIONS
\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE SHIP.

THE TECHNIQUE ISN’T NEW,
BUT THE SCALE OF IT IS.

\h\hTHE FORD IS BEING BUILT WITH
MUCH LARGER AND HEAVIER MODULES

THAN ANY OTHER CARRIER BEFORE.

Hummel: A LARGE MODULE
\h\h\h\h\h\hMIGHT HAVE

\h\h\h20 OR 30 OR 40
COMPARTMENTS IN IT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT MIGHT BE
AN ELECTRICAL SWITCHBOARD ROOM,

IT MIGHT BE A PUMP ROOM,
IT COULD BE A STOREROOM,

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT COULD BE MAYBE
THE BOTTOM HALF OF AN ELEVATOR

THAT MOVES STORES
\hAROUND THE SHIP.

\hNarrator: SHIPBUILDERS
FINISH OFF EACH MODULE,

ADDING THE MECHANICALS THAT
\h\hWILL MAKE THE SHIP RUN.

Butler: WE BEGIN TO OUTFIT WITH
PIPING, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS,

\h\h\h\hWITH VENTILATION,
WITH PIECES OF MACHINERY,

\h\hWITH ALL THE THINGS
THAT GO INSIDE THE SHIP.

Narrator: THESE MODULES
ARE KNOWN AS SUPERLIFTS.

EACH ONE WEIGHS ANYWHERE
\hFROM 80 TO 900 TONS--

AS MUCH AS A MEDIUM-SIZED HOUSE.

Butler: WE CAN BUILD
\h\hSOME SUPERLIFTS

\h\h\hIN A MATTER OF
TWO OR THREE MONTHS.

\hSOME SUPERLIFTS TAKE
OVER A YEAR TO BUILD.

\hNarrator: THE LAST STEP IS TO
MOVE THE SUPERLIFT INTO THE DOCK

AND TO JOIN IT WITH THE REST
\h\h\h\hOF THE FORD’S BODY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHummel: IT IS
A WELL-CHOREOGRAPHED EXERCISE.

WE HAVE A PRETTY CRISP PLAN

OF HOW WE WANT TO
PUT THAT TOGETHER.

SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO COMPARE IT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO LEGO BLOCKS.

♪

\hNarrator: TODAY, THE SHIPYARD
PREPARES FOR A MILESTONE EVENT:

\hADDING THE 932-TON STERN,
MADE UP OF OVER 30 MODULES.

IT’S TAKEN 80,000 MAN-HOURS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO BUILD.

Hummel: IT’S GOT A TREMENDOUS
\hAMOUNT OF OUTFITTING IN IT.

IT’S GOT A STEERING GEAR ROOM,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S GOT
A POWER DISTRIBUTION ROOM,

QUITE A FEW TANKS, AND SOME
\hSTOREROOMS IN IT AS WELL.

\hNarrator: TOMORROW,
THIS MASSIVE STRUCTURE

WILL BE JOINED TO THE HULL.

\hONCE THE LIFT BEGINS,
THERE’S NO TURNING BACK.

SHIPBUILDERS HAVE
\hTO GET IT RIGHT.

Hummel: WHEN YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT LARGE,

A SMALL ERROR CAN
ACTUALLY TRANSLATE

INTO A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM.

♪

Narrator: 2012.

IN NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA,

\h\hSHIPBUILDERS ARE READY
TO LIFT THE 932-TON STERN

\h\h\h\h\h\hONTO THE NAVY’S NEW
AIRCRAFT CARRIER, THE USS FORD.

TO DO IT, THEY’LL USE A SPECIAL
CRANE CALLED "BIG BLUE."

\h\hButler: TO US,
THE BIG BLUE CRANE

IS AN ICON OF THE NORTH YARD.

EVERY CARRIER IN DRY DOCK 12
HAS USED THE BIG BLUE CRANE.

YOU CAN SEE IT FROM MILES AWAY.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BIG BLUE IS
WHAT’S KNOWN AS A GANTRY CRANE,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE LARGEST IN
THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

TWO LEGS STRADDLE THE DRY DOCK.

EACH ONE IS SET ON A RAIL.

THE CRANE MOVES UP AND DOWN
\h\h\h\h\hTHE SHIP’S LENGTH,

WITH THE PAYLOAD ATTACHED
TO A CARRIAGE IN BETWEEN.

233 FEET TALL, BIG BLUE WEIGHS
\h\h\hOVER 10 MILLION POUNDS.

Hummel: BIG BLUE WAS BUILT
\h\h\h\h\hIN THE MID-’70s,

\hBUT BACK THEN, IT WAS REALLY
ONLY A 900-TON CAPACITY CRANE.

WHEN WE DECIDED TO BUILD
\h\h\h\hTHE FORD CLASS,

WE KNEW WE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE

OF A LITTLE BIT MORE CAPACITY
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THAT CRANE.

THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT
\h\h\h\h\h\hHOISTS ON IT,

SO EACH HOIST HAS ABOUT
\h\hA 350-TON CAPACITY,

\h\h\h\h\hAND WE’LL POSITION
THOSE HOISTS ON A SUPERLIFT

TO PICK UP THE WEIGHT.

♪

\hNarrator: THE DAY OF THE LIFT,
ENGINEERS CHECK UP ON THE STERN.

IT’S SECURED TO THE CRANE

AND SITTING ON 12 MASSIVE
\h\h\h\h\hPIECES OF STEEL.

Hummel: TWO DAYS AGO,
\h\hTHOSE STEEL SHORES

WEREN’T IN THAT PLACE.

WE LIFTED IT UP ACTUALLY
\h\h\h\hTO THIS HEIGHT,

AND WE’VE INSTALLED
\h\h\hTHOSE SHORES.

SO WHEN IT GOES TO THE SHIP

\h\h\h\h\hTHERE’LL BE LESS TIME
ON THE CRANE TO FINAL POSITION.

[SIREN]

Narrator: HIGH ABOVE
\h\h\hTHE SHIPYARD,

THE CRANE OPERATOR MOVES
BIG BLUE INTO POSITION.

[SIREN]

DOZENS OF SHIPBUILDERS STAND BY
IN CASE ANYTHING GOES WRONG.

Butler: THERE’S QUITE
A FEW PEOPLE INVOLVED,

FOLKS OBSERVING TO MAKE SURE

THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING
\hTHE WAY IT SHOULD GO.

IT’S A VERY CHOREOGRAPHED
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOPERATION,

NOTHING IS LEFT TO CHANCE.

♪

Hummel: ONE THING WE ABSOLUTELY
PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO

IS MAKING SURE NOBODY
\h\h\h\hGETS UNDER IT.

WE DON’T WANT ANYBODY THERE

\h\h\h\h\hIN THE CHANCE THAT
SOMETHING BAD MIGHT HAPPEN.

♪

\h\hNarrator: THE LIFT TAKES
JUST AN HOUR TO ACCOMPLISH.

NOW THE SHIP IS NEARLY
\h\h\h\h50% COMPLETE.

Hummel: IT’S A GREAT SENSE
\h\h\h\hOF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

YOU TAKE A LITTLE PRIDE IN WHAT
YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED AS A TEAM,

\h\hBECAUSE BUILDING
AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

\hQUITE HONESTLY,
IT’S A LONG GRIND.

\h\hNarrator: TWO YEARS
AND 162 SUPERLIFTS MORE,

THE CARRIER IS READY
\h\hFOR THE TOPPER.

THE 611-TON ISLAND IS A DESIGN
LIKE NO OTHER CARRIER BEFORE.

♪

Narrator: ON ALL CARRIERS,

THE ISLAND IS THE COMMAND CENTER
OF THE ENTIRE SHIP.

\h\h\h\hMan: CONTINUE,
STAY ON COURSE 1-6-0.

Narrator: DOZENS OF SAILORS WORK
ON ITS SEVEN LEVELS,

KEEPING TRACK OF NAVIGATION.

Man: DO WE HAVE ALL THE AIRCRAFT
ACCOUNTED FOR?

Narrator: AND DIRECTING
\h\h\h\hALL THE AIRCRAFT

THAT GIVE THE CARRIER ITS PUNCH.

[JETS ROARING]

\h\h\hHummel: THE ISLAND IS
ESSENTIALLY A CONTROL TOWER,

SO THE BRIDGE IS THERE, SOME OF
THE FLIGHT CONTROLS ARE THERE.

THERE’S A PLACE TO PUT MASTS
\h\hAND RADARS AND ANTENNAS.

♪

Narrator: THE ISLAND IS
\hAN INDISPENSABLE PART

OF TODAY’S CARRIER OPERATIONS.

\hBUT THE EARLIEST CARRIERS
WERE CONVERTED CARGO SHIPS,

BATTLESHIPS, AND CRUISERS.

\hTHEY DIDN’T HAVE
AN ISLAND AT ALL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRentfrow:
EARLY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

WEREN’T NECESSARILY DESIGNED
\h\hTO BE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

THEY ESSENTIALLY HAD
\h\h\hA FLIGHT DECK

\h\hBUILT OVER THE TOP
OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE.

Narrator: THE DECKS PROVE

\hAN EFFECTIVE TAKEOFF
AND LANDING PLATFORM.

BUT AVIATORS SOON REALIZE THAT
\hMANAGING ALL THOSE AIRCRAFT

WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

Rentfrow: AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS ESSENTIALLY

AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL PATTERN

\h\h\hLIKE YOU WOULD HAVE AROUND
A TOWER AT A CIVILIAN AIRFIELD,

AND CIVILIAN AIRFIELDS
OBVIOUSLY HAVE TOWERS.

IF THERE IS NO ISLAND STRUCTURE
ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

\h\hTHEN HOW ARE YOU
MANAGING THE PLANES

THAT ARE FLYING AROUND THE SHIP?

Narrator: THE NEWLY DEVELOPED
CARRIERS HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM:

THE MAKESHIFT DECK OBSCURES
\h\hNAVIGATORS’ SIGHTLINES,

FORCING THE SHIP TO SAIL BLIND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRentfrow:
THEY’RE HAVING TO LOOK OUT

FROM UNDERNEATH THE FLIGHT DECK

\h\h\hTO TRY TO DRIVE
THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

\h\h\h\hSO THAT BRINGS ABOUT
THE EVOLUTION OF THE ISLAND

AS A PART OF THE SHIP’S
\h\h\h\hSUPERSTRUCTURE.

Narrator: EVERY U.S. CARRIER
\h\h\h\h\hSINCE WORLD WAR II

HAS POSITIONED THE ISLAND
\h\h\hIN THE SAME PLACE...

UNTIL NOW.

THE FORD’S ISLAND
\hIS HALF THE SIZE

OF THE NIMITZ-CLASS CARRIERS,

\h\hAND FURTHER TOWARD
THE BACK OF THE SHIP.

McGrath: WHEN YOU LOOK AT FORD
\h\h\h\h\hNEXT TO THE NIMITZ,

A PERSON WHO’S NOT FAMILIAR
\h\h\hWITH AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

\hWOULD IMMEDIATELY
SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

\h\hNarrator: THE DIFFERENCE IS
A HALF AN ACRE MORE FLIGHT DECK

IN FRONT OF THE ISLAND.

NO SMALL MEASURE WHEN
IT’S THE ONLY AIRFIELD

FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES AROUND.

\h\hJamie Roman: IT MEANS
MORE SORTIES FOR AIRCRAFT.

\h33% INCREASE IN SORTIES AND A
QUICKER TURNAROUND FOR AIRCRAFT

TO GET AIRCRAFT OFF THE SHIP
\hAND TO DO THEIR MISSIONS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
WITH THE ISLAND INSTALLED,

THE FORD’S STRUCTURE
\h\hIS 96% COMPLETE.

AND THE STEEL HAS BEEN CUT

FOR THE SECOND OF THE THREE
\h\h\h\h\hFORD-CLASS SHIPS,

THE USS KENNEDY.

BUT IN WASHINGTON, CONGRESS
BEGINS TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

AT THE PROGRAM.

THE FORD IS $1 BILLION
\h\h\h\h\hOVER BUDGET,

WITH COSTS SPINNING
\h\hOUT OF CONTROL.

\hJohn McCain: I NEED TO
UNDERSTAND WHY THE NAVY

HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CONTROL COSTS
ON THIS PROGRAM.

I’M ALSO RELUCTANT TO SUPPORT
\h\h\h\h\h\hADDITIONAL FUNDING

FOR THE SECOND CARRIER, CVN-79,

\h\h\hUNTIL THE NAVY
AND THE SHIPBUILDER

GET FORD-CLASS CARRIER COSTS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hUNDER CONTROL.

\hNarrator: CONGRESS ISN’T
THE ONLY ONE WITH CONCERN.

AT THE UNITED STATES
\h\h\hNAVAL ACADEMY,

\h\h\hEXPERTS WONDER
IF THEY’RE BUILDING

THE WRONG KIND OF SHIPS.

Jerry Hendrix: I TAKE
SECOND PLACE TO NO ONE

IN MY RESPECT AND APPRECIATION
\h\h\hFOR THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER

AND ITS ROLE IN THE SUCCESS
\hOF THE UNITED STATES NAVY

OVER THE PAST 70 YEARS.

\h\h\hHOWEVER, IN BOTH TERMS
OF EFFICIENCY AND EFFICACY,

THEIR DAY IS COMING TO AN END.

♪

Narrator: WHILE AMERICA
\hBETS ON ITS CARRIERS,

\h\h\hOTHER COUNTRIES INVEST
IN WEAPONS TO TAKE THEM OUT.

THE DEADLIEST IS

\hTHE DONG FENG-21
ANTI-SHIP MISSILE.

\h\h\hIT FLIES OVER 1,000 MILES
AT 10 TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND.

IN JUST MINUTES, A CARRIER

AND OVER $3 BILLION
\hWORTH OF AIRCRAFT

COULD EASILY BE DESTROYED.

\h\h\h\hMcGrath: CRITICS OF
THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER BELIEVE

\hTHAT BECAUSE THERE ARE
SO MANY WEAPONS SYSTEMS

THAT ARE BECOMING OPTIMIZED
\h\h\h\h\hTO GO AFTER THEM,

THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER
\h\h\h\hIS OBSOLETE.

\hNarrator: IT’S UP TO
THE UNITED STATES NAVY

\hAND THE SHIPBUILDERS
AT HUNTINGTON INGALLS

TO PROVE THEM WRONG.

2012.

\h\h\hTHE NAVY’S NEW CLASS OF
SUPERCARRIERS IS UNDER SIEGE.

CRITICS WONDER IF THE RETURN
ON THE COUNTRY’S INVESTMENT

\h\h\hWILL BE WORTH
THE SPIRALING COSTS.

McGrath: THEY BELIEVE THAT
THE NAVY WAS NOT PREPARING

\h\h\h\hFOR MODERN WAR
BY CONTINUING TO BUILD

\h\h\h\h\hLARGE, EXPENSIVE
NUCLEAR AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

\hNarrator: AT THE PENTAGON,
CARRIER ADVOCATES FIRE BACK,

CLAIMING THAT CRITICS AREN’T
\hSEEING THE WHOLE PICTURE.

Rentfrow: AS THEY CONTINUE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO DEVELOP

BETTER OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAGAINST US,

WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP

BETTER DEFENSIVE CAPABILITIES
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAGAINST THEM.

Narrator: THE FORD COMES
WITH TWO KINDS MISSILES:

[WHOOSH]

\h\hEACH CAN TAKE OUT AN ENEMY
MISSILE OR AIRCRAFT WITH EASE.

[WHOOSH]

\h\h\hIF THE ENEMY GETS PAST THE
FORD’S FIRST ROUND OF MUNITION,

IT MUST FACE THE CARRIER’S

CLOSE-IN WEAPONS SYSTEM,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOR CWIS...

[ROARING]

SPITTING 4,500 ARMOR-PIERCING
\h\h\h\h\h\hBULLETS A MINUTE.

♪

\hTOMORROW’S DEFENSES
ARE EVEN MORE DEADLY.

THE NAVY IS DEVELOPING A WEAPON

\h\hTHAT COMBINES SIX
HIGH-INTENSITY LASERS

INTO ONE POWERFUL
\hBEAM OF ENERGY.

IT CAN FRY A BOAT’S SENSORS...

[BANG]

[BOOM]

DETONATE ONBOARD EXPLOSIVES...

[BOOM]

OR DESTROY AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
IN UNDER TWO SECONDS.

♪

AND THEN THERE’S THE RAIL GUN...

\h\hREPLACING GUNPOWDER WITH
ELECTROMAGNETIC PROPULSION.

ITS PROJECTILES FLY...

[BOOM]

MORE THAN SIX TIMES
THE SPEED OF SOUND.

\hMcGrath: PUTTING ONE
ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

OR PUTTING SEVERAL ON
\hAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

\hTO ME IS A NO-BRAINER WHEN
THEY’RE READY FOR THE FLEET.

Narrator: WHILE CONGRESS DEBATES
THE CARRIER’S MERIT,

\hSHIPBUILDERS KEEP THEIR
HEADS DOWN AND WORK HARD.

THEY KNOW THAT THE BEST WAY
\h\h\hTO BEAT THEIR CRITICS

IS TO FINALLY FINISH THE SHIP.

\hHummel: WHILE THERE MAY HAVE
BEEN A FEW PEOPLE WITH DOUBTS,

WE’RE UP TO THE CHALLENGE,
\h\h\hWE LIKE A CHALLENGE.

WE KNEW GOING INTO THIS

IT WAS GOING TO BE
A DIFFICULT SHIP.

\h\hMcGrath: THERE IS NOBODY
INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION

\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE USS FORD
WHO COMES TO WORK AND SAYS,

"HOW CAN I FAIL TODAY?"

\h\h\hTHEY ARE COMING TO WORK
TRYING TO BUILD THE BEST SHIP

\hTHAT THEY POSSIBLY CAN, AND
IT’S JUST A HARD THING TO DO.

Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2013,

CONSTRUCTION REACHES
\hA MAJOR MILESTONE:

THE DRY DOCK FLOODING.

PRESIDENT FORD’S DAUGHTER,
\h\h\h\hSUSAN FORD BALES,

HELPS MAKE THE FINAL INSPECTION,

\h\h\hTHEN OPENS THE VALVES
THAT WILL FLOOD DRY DOCK 12

\hWITH 100 MILLION
GALLONS OF WATER.

♪

IN JUST UNDER A DAY,

THE FIRST OF THE NAVY’S
\hNEW CLASS OF CARRIERS

\h\h\hWILL FLOAT FOR
THE VERY FIRST TIME.

A MONTH LATER, THE CHRISTENING.

Susan Ford Bales: I CHRISTEN

THE UNITED STATES SHIP
\h\h\hGERALD R. FORD.

MAY GOD BLESS THIS SHIP
\hAND ALL WHO SAIL HER.

[CHEERING]

Butler: ANYTIME YOU BREAK
\h\h\hA BOTTLE ON A SHIP,

IT IS A GREAT FEELING.

\h\hBECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT
THAT SHIP IS GETTING READY

TO GO INTO THE WATER
FOR ITS FIRST TIME,

\hAND YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAD
A BIG PART TO PLAY IN THAT.

Narrator: THE FORD MOVES TO
ANOTHER PART OF THE SHIPYARD

FOR THE FINAL STAGE OF TESTING.

BUT DELIVERY IS STILL
\h\h\hA LONG WAY OFF.

McGrath: ACCEPTING DELIVERY
\h\hOF THE SHIP IS DIFFERENT

THAN IT BEING OPERATIONALLY
\h\h\h\h\hREADY FOR COMBAT.

THERE’S A LENGTHY PROCESS
\hBETWEEN THOSE TWO TIMES.

THERE ARE SEVERAL YEARS
\hBETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

Narrator: THE CARRIER NOW FACES
ITS BIGGEST OBSTACLE YET:

\h\h\hINCORPORATING
ITS NEW TECHNOLOGY.

McGrath: THE TWO TECHNOLOGIES
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE FORD

THAT GET THE MOST DISCUSSION

\h\h\h\hARE THE CATAPULT
AND THE ARRESTING GEAR,

THE ADVANCED ARRESTING
\h\h\h\h\hGEAR SYSTEM.

Narrator: IF THESE DON’T WORK,

THE FORD WON’T BE ABLE
\h\h\h\hTO DO ITS JOB.

AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER EXISTS
\hFOR ONE PRIMARY REASON.

[JETS ROARING]

TO DELIVER AMERICAN WARPLANES
\h\h\h\hALL AROUND THE GLOBE.

♪

A 97,000-TON NIMITZ-CLASS SHIP

CAN TRAVEL HUNDREDS
\h\hOF MILES A DAY.

SO GETTING THE AIRCRAFT
\h\h\h\h\hSOMEWHERE FAST

ISN’T A CHALLENGE.

THE HARD PART IS GETTING THEM
\h\h\h\h\hON AND OFF THE SHIP.

Rentfrow: TYPICALLY A RUNWAY
\h\h\hTHAT WILL ACCOMMODATE

\h\h\hJET AIRCRAFT IS
10,000 FEET OR LONGER.

BUT WE DON’T HAVE 10,000-FOOT
RUNWAYS ON AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

OUR RUNWAY IS 1,089 FEET LONG,

\h\h\hAND SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE
SOME SORT OF ARTIFICIAL MEANS

OF GETTING THE AIRPLANE TO GO
\h\h\hFROM ZERO MILES AN HOUR

\hTO SOMETHING ON THE ORDER
OF 170 TO 180 MILES AN HOUR

TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT.

SO THAT, OF COURSE,
\h\hIS THE CATAPULT.

Narrator: EARLY NAVAL AIRCRAFT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE SMALL,

AND THEIR BOMB LOADS LIGHT.

THEY COULD LAUNCH
\hFROM THE CARRIER

USING JUST THEIR OWN POWER.

Rentfrow: IF YOU LOOK AT
OLD WORLD WAR II FOOTAGE

OF AN AIRPLANE TAKING OFF,

A LOT OF TIMES WHAT YOU SEE
IS WHAT WE CALL A DECK RUN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S SIMPLY,
IT’S RUNNING DOWN THE DECK

AND TAKING OFF LIKE IT WOULD
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN AN AIRFIELD,

\h\hEXCEPT IT’S DOING IT
ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN GENERAL,
THEY WEREN’T REALLY USING

CATAPULT-ASSISTED TAKEOFFS.

\hNarrator: IN THE 1950s, NAVAL
AIRCRAFT GET BIGGER AND HEAVIER.

THEY ALSO CARRY MORE BOMBS.

Rentfrow: THE POST-WORLD WAR II
STORY OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

IS ALL ABOUT THE ABILITY

\h\h\hTO PRODUCE MORE
COMBAT STRIKING POWER.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE WAYS

TO GET THESE AIRPLANES
\h\h\h\hOFF THE DECK,

AND SO THIS REALLY LEADS
\h\h\hTO THE DEVELOPMENT

OF THE STEAM CATAPULT
\h\h\h\hIN THE 1950s.

[JETS ROARING]

Narrator: EVERY U.S. CARRIER
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSINCE 1955

HAS RELIED ON STEAM CATAPULTS
\h\hTO GET AIRCRAFT AIRBORNE.

♪

BUT STEAM POWER COMES AT A COST.

THE CATAPULT, OR CAT SHOT,
\h\h\hIS A VIOLENT EVENT.

\h\h\hTHE PILOT AND THE AIRFRAME
GO FROM 0 TO 180 MILES PER HOUR

IN JUST THREE SECONDS.

[ROARING]

McGrath: THE LAUNCHING
\h\h\h\hOF AN AIRCRAFT

CAUSES A GREAT DEAL OF SHOCK
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THAT AIRCRAFT

AND TO THE SYSTEMS ON IT.

OVER TIME, THAT SHOCK
\h\h\hCAUSES FAILURES,

THOSE FAILURES COST MONEY TO FIX

AND MEAN LOST OPERATIONAL
\h\h\h\h\h\hAVAILABILITY.

\hRentfrow: THERE ARE TONS AND
TONS AND TONS OF MOVING PARTS,

\h\h\h\hSO IT IS VERY
MAINTENANCE INTENSIVE

AND VERY PEOPLE INTENSIVE.

IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING
UNDERNEATH THE FLIGHT DECK

\h\hOF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER
TO OPERATE A STEAM CATAPULT.

Narrator: THE OTHER PROBLEM:

\h\hSTEAM CATAPULTS
CAN’T BE FINE-TUNED

TO LAUNCH THE LIGHTER AIRCRAFT
\h\hTHE NAVY WANTS TO DEVELOP.

\h\h\h\hMcGrath: THESE ARE
UNMANNED COMBAT VEHICLES,

\hUNMANNED REFUELING VEHICLES,
UNMANNED SURVEILLANCE VEHICLES

THAT YOU COULD, NUMBER ONE,
\h\h\hHAVE FAR MORE OF THEM

\hBECAUSE THEY’D BE
SMALLER AND LIGHTER.

THIS CARRIER HAS TO ACCOMMODATE
A NAVY ARCHITECTURE

THAT IS BEING GERMINATED IN SOME
12-YEAR-OLD’S MIND RIGHT NOW.

AND WHEN THAT 12-YEAR-OLD
\h\h\h\h\hGOES OFF TO WORK

\h\h\hIN THE AMERICAN
AERODYNAMICS INDUSTRY

AND COMES UP WITH SOMETHING

WE WANT TO SHOOT OFF
AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
A SYSTEM THAT CAN DO THAT.

\hNarrator: THE FORD FEATURES
THE FIRST NEW CATAPULT DESIGN

IN 50 YEARS.

IT’S CALLED THE ELECTROMAGNETIC
AIRCRAFT LAUNCH SYSTEM,

OR EMALS FOR SHORT.

IT DOESN’T USE STEAM;
\hIT USES ELECTRICITY.

\h\hTHE EMALS SYSTEM IS MADE UP
OF TWO LONG STATIONARY BEAMS...

AND A CARRIAGE THAT HOOKS UP
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE AIRCRAFT.

THE BEAMS ARE MADE UP
\h\hOF ELECTRIC COILS.

WHEN ENERGIZED, THEY CREATE
\h\hAN ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCE

THAT PROPELS THE CARRIAGE
\h\h\h\h\hDOWN THE TRACK,

\h\hPULLING THE AIRCRAFT ALONG
AND LAUNCHING IT OFF THE DECK.

Jeremy Stoecklein: THE OPPOSING
FORWARDS COME TOGETHER

AND PUSH AWAY.

\h\hAND WHAT’S EVER
IN THE MIDDLE THEN,

\hIS DRUG AND PUSHED
AT A CONTROLLED PACE

DOWN, DOWN THE FLIGHT DECK.

\h\hNarrator: BY THE TIME
THE FORD IS COMMISSIONED,

THE NAVY HAS BEEN TESTING EMALS
ON LAND FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFIRST UP:
AN F/A-18E SUPERHORNET,

NAVAL AVIATION’S GO-TO JET.

♪

NEXT UP: A 60,000-POUND
\h\h\h\hC-2A GREYHOUND.

♪

LAST: THE NAVY’S NEW
\hF-35 LIGHTNING II.

\hTHE LAUNCH GIVES HOPE
THAT THE NEW TECHNOLOGY

ISN’T JUST A FLASH IN THE PAN.

♪

THE OPTIMISM IS SHORT-LIVED.

IN 2014, THE NAVY REVEALS

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT ALMOST 10%
OF ITS LAUNCHES HAVE FAILED,

PUTTING THE ENTIRE
\hPROGRAM AT RISK.

Hummel: A SHIP THAT CAN’T LAUNCH
OR RECOVER AIRPLANES,

\h\h\hTHAT’S NOT GOOD FOR US;
THAT’S NOT GOOD FOR THE NAVY.

Rentfrow: IF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC
CATAPULTS DON’T WORK,

THEN THE GERALD R. FORD
\hOBVIOUSLY WON’T WORK.

IT CAN’T LAUNCH ITS AIRCRAFT.

♪

Narrator: 2014.

NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

THE NAVY’S NEW $14 BILLION
\h\hCARRIER HAS A PROBLEM:

IT CAN’T LAUNCH AIRCRAFT
\h\h\h\h\hOFF THE SHIP.

♪

SHIPBUILDERS WORK ON A SOLUTION,

INSISTING THAT DELAYS ARE
\hJUST PAR FOR THE COURSE.

\hButler: THE FORD CLASS IS
PROBABLY UNIQUE IN THE FACT

THAT THE DECISION
WAS MADE EARLY ON

TO PUT A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY
\hON THE FIRST PROTOTYPE.

ANYTIME YOU DO THAT,
YOU EXPECT GOING IN

THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE SOME,
\hSOME ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH.

Narrator: ANOTHER ISSUE:

THE FORD’S NEW LANDING SYSTEM
\h\h\h\hISN’T WORKING EITHER.

Rentfrow: AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE ALL ABOUT

THE ABILITY TO GENERATE SORTIES.

\h\h\hHOW MANY MISSIONS
CAN YOU LAUNCH AND LAND

DURING ONE 24-HOUR PERIOD

IS THE BREAD AND BUTTER
OF WHAT A CARRIER DOES.

♪

Narrator: LANDING ON A CARRIER
\hIS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS

A NAVY PILOT WILL EVER DO.

♪

\h\hRentfrow: THE FIELD THAT
YOU’RE LANDING ON IS MOVING,

AND NOT ONLY IS IT MOVING,

BUT IT’S ACTUALLY MOVING ABOUT
\h\h15 DEGREES TO YOUR RIGHT,

AWAY FROM WHERE YOU’RE
\h\hTRYING TO LAND IT.

THE PILOT IS CONSTANTLY
\h\h\hHAVING TO CORRECT

A LITTLE BIT TO THE RIGHT
\hAS THEY’RE COMING DOWN.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FROM ALMOST
THE BEGINNING OF NAVAL AVIATION,

AIRCRAFT WERE DESIGNED TO CATCH
A WIRE STRUNG ACROSS THE DECK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hRentfrow:
THE VERY EARLIEST CABLES

\h\h\hWERE ACTUALLY ROPES
SUSPENDED BETWEEN SANDBAGS

THAT CAUGHT BIPLANES THAT
\hWERE ATTEMPTING TO LAND.

AND FROM THERE, THEY THEN
\h\hDEVELOPED THE CONCEPT

\hOF ARRESTING CABLES THAT ARE
ACTUALLY BUILT INTO THE SHIP.

Narrator: ARRESTING WIRES TODAY
HAVE TO HELP STOP AN AIRCRAFT

\h\hLANDING AT OVER
150 MILES PER HOUR.

AS HIS PLANE TOUCHES DOWN,
THE PILOT USES A TAILHOOK

TO CATCH ONE OF THE THREE
\h\h\h\h\hARRESTING WIRES

STRUNG ACROSS THE LANDING AREA
\h\h\h\h\hON THE FLIGHT DECK.

WHEN THE TAILHOOK SNAGS
\h\h\hAN ARRESTING WIRE,

IT PULLS THE WIRE OUT.

EACH END OF THE WIRE IS ATTACHED
TO A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER

JUST BELOW THE FLIGHT DECK.

THE CYLINDER SYSTEM
\hABSORBS THE ENERGY

AND SLOWS THE AIRCRAFT UNTIL
IT REACHES A COMPLETE STOP.

IT’S A RELIABLE SYSTEM,

BUT THE JOLT IS HARD
\h\hON THE AIRFRAME.

A NAVY F/A-18 HORNET
\hLANDING ON A SHIP

LASTS ONLY A QUARTER AS LONG
\hAS ONE DESIGNED FOR LAND.

McGrath: THERE HAVE BEEN
INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

TO THE HYDRAULICS
AND THE MECHANICS

OF THE ARRESTING GEAR OVER TIME,

BUT PEOPLE HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT

\h\h\h\h\h\hAPPLYING OTHER
PHYSICS PRINCIPLES TO IT.

\h\hOR IF THEY HAD, THEY THOUGHT
IT WAS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE.

AND THEN SOME WONDERFUL COMPANY
DECIDED

THEY WERE GOING TO DEVELOP
A DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT,

\h\h\h\h\hAND SO NOW WE HAVE
THE ADVANCED ARRESTING GEAR.

Narrator: THE FLIGHT DECK
LOOKS THE SAME AS BEFORE.

\h\hDECK CREW AND AVIATORS
WON’T SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHummel: AAG,
OR ADVANCED ARRESTING GEAR,

STILL HAS THE WIRES GOING
\h\hACROSS THE FLIGHT DECK

THAT CATCH THE TAILHOOK
\h\h\h\hON THE AIRPLANE,

BUT WHAT’S UNDER THE DECK
IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT

FROM A NIMITZ CLASS.

Narrator: ON AAG, THE ARRESTING
CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO TWO DRUMS

BENEATH THE FLIGHT DECK.

AS THE CABLES PULL AWAY
\h\h\h\hFROM THE DRUMS,

\hTHEY’RE SLOWED BY RESISTANCE
FROM AN ELECTROMAGNETIC MOTOR

AND ENERGY-ABSORBING
\h\h\hWATER BRAKES.

THE SYSTEM ADJUSTS AUTOMATICALLY

\h\h\hTO ACCOMMODATE AIRCRAFT
OF VARYING WEIGHTS AND SPEEDS.

Hummel: THE MAXIMUM FORCE
OR DECELERATION OR G-FORCE

\h\hIS INTENDED TO BE LOWER
WITH THE NEW ARRESTING GEAR

\h\h\h\h\hAS COMPARED TO
THE OLD ARRESTING GEAR.

AND WHAT THAT DOES
IS REDUCES STRESS

AND WEAR AND TEAR
\hON THE AIRFRAME,

SO THE PLANE LASTS LONGER.

Narrator: THE NEW TECHNOLOGY
\h\h\hLOOKS GREAT ON PAPER,

BUT PROVES ANOTHER
\h\hCOSTLY GAMBLE.

\h\h\hBY 2015, DEVELOPMENT COSTS
FOR THE ADVANCED ARRESTING GEAR

\h\h\h\h\h\hHAVE GROWN
TO ALMOST $1 BILLION--

SIX TIMES THE ORIGINAL COST.

\h\hTHE NAVY KNOWS
IT NEEDS A BIG WIN

\h\hTO PROVE THAT AT LEAST SOME
OF THE FORD’S TECHNOLOGY WORKS.

IN JUNE 2015, THEY PLAN TO GIVE
THE MEDIA AN UP-CLOSE LOOK

AT THE CATAPULT SYSTEM,

\h\hCONFIDENT THAT
THE NEW TECHNOLOGY

IS FINALLY GOOD TO GO.

♪

\hTODAY, THEY’LL SHOOT A LARGE
STEEL VESSEL CALLED A DEADLOAD

OFF THE CARRIER’S BOW.

THE DEADLOAD WEIGHS
\h\h\h15,000 POUNDS,

ABOUT A THIRD AS MUCH
\h\hAS A LOADED F-18.

Hummel: WE USE DEADLOADS THAT
\h\hSIMULATE AIRPLANE WEIGHT,

SO WE KNOW THAT IT CAN LAUNCH IT
AT THE RIGHT VELOCITY

\h\h\hAND DO ALL THE THINGS IT’S
SUPPOSED TO DO, AND DO IT RIGHT.

Narrator: IF THE LAUNCH WORKS,

\h\hIT’S A MAJOR BOOST FOR
THE MUCH-MALIGNED PROGRAM.

IF IT DOESN’T, IT’S YET ANOTHER
SETBACK FOR THE NAVY’S NEW SHIP.

Hummel: IN THE UNEXPECTED EVENT
THAT SOMETHING WOULD GO WRONG,

\hTHAT’S SOMETHING THAT
WE’D HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
\h\hWE GET IT RIGHT.

Narrator: JUNE 2015.

NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

NAVY CREWS PREPARE TO LAUNCH
\h\h\h\h\h\hA WEIGHTED SLED

FROM ONE OF THE USS FORD’S
\h\h\hHIGH-TECH CATAPULTS,

\h\h\hHOPING TO DEMONSTRATE THAT
THE EMBATTLED NEW LAUNCH SYSTEM

IS FINALLY UP TO SNUFF.

SUSAN FORD BALES, DAUGHTER
OF THE CARRIER’S NAMESAKE,

GIVES THE SIGNAL.

THE SLED FLIES 300 FEET
DOWN THE CATAPULT TRACK

AT ABOUT 160 MILES PER HOUR...

AND SHOOTS INTO THE JAMES RIVER.

Hummel: IT PROVED THAT EMALS
\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS SUCCESSFUL,

AND THAT THAT PART OF THE SHIP

WAS GOING TO BE READY
\h\h\h\hTO GO TO SEA.

AND THAT WAS INDEED A GREAT DAY
FOR MANY SHIPBUILDERS.

Butler: WHAT WE’VE SEEN
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE EMALS

IS NOW WE HAVE BUILT
\h\hTHE TECHNOLOGY,

DEVELOPED THE TECHNOLOGY,
INSTALLED THE TECHNOLOGY,

WE’VE PROVEN THAT
THAT CAN BE DONE.

\hNarrator: A YEAR LATER,
THE FORD’S ARRESTING GEAR

\h\h\h\hSEEMS TO BE ON
THE RIGHT TRACK, TOO.

BY 2016, AN F/A-18E SUPER HORNET
IS ABLE TO LAND 12 TIMES A DAY.

Hummel: IT JUST PROVED
WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW;

WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO WORK.

\h\h\hACTUALLY LANDING
THE PLANE ON THE DECK

PROVES THE SHIP’S READY TO GO,
\h\h\hAND WE’RE PROUD OF THAT.

Narrator: IN JUNE 2017,

THE NAVY IS CONFIDENT
IN THE NEW TECHNOLOGY,

AND READY TO WELCOME THE SHIP
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hINTO ITS FLEET.

THE USS GERALD R. FORD

\h\hBECOMES AMERICA’S
11th WORKING CARRIER,

AND THE FIRST OF THREE
IN A BRAND NEW CLASS.

John Richardson: IT’S DEFINITELY
A DAY OF CELEBRATION

FOR THE CAPTAIN AND THE CREW
\h\h\hOF THE GERALD R. FORD,

WHO FROM THIS DAY FORWARD

\hWILL NOW NO LONGER BE
A SHIPBUILDING PROJECT,

BUT WILL BE A WARSHIP
\h\h\h\h\hAND A CREW.

[APPLAUSE]

Hummel: DELIVERING THAT SHIP
WAS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

\h\hBLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS
FOR YEARS WENT INTO THAT.

IT’S THE HARDEST THING YOU’LL
\h\hEVER DO AS A SHIPBUILDER.

♪

Narrator: FOR THE NEXT
\h\h\h\h\hTHREE YEARS,

THE FORD’S CREW MUST
\hPAINSTAKINGLY TEST

\h\h\hEVERY SINGLE SYSTEM
ON EACH PART OF THE SHIP.

Hummel: IT’S IMPORTANT TO DO
\hTHOSE TESTS AFTER DELIVERY

TO PROVE TO THE NATION

THAT SHE’S READY TO GO TO SEA
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND BE DEPLOYED.

♪

McGrath: WHEN THE SHIP DEPLOYS,

IT WILL DEPLOY AS A MONSTROUSLY
EFFECTIVE AND CAPABLE SHIP.

♪

Narrator: BACK AT THE SHIPYARD,

THE SECOND FORD-CLASS SHIP
\h\h\h\h\hIS 50% COMPLETE:

THE USS KENNEDY.

Hummel: WE HAD ALREADY BEEN

THROUGH THOSE EARLY PHASES
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF FORD,

\h\hSO AS WE STARTED BUILDING
KENNEDY IN THOSE EARLY PHASES,

\h\h\hALL THOSE LESSONS
WERE BEING INCORPORATED

ON THE KENNEDY ITSELF.

Butler: WE’RE GOING TO DELIVER
\h\h\hKENNEDY IN JUNE OF 2022.

IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT IS.

BUT TO US, IT’S WHAT
\h\hWE DO EVERY DAY.

♪

Narrator: CONGRESS HAS ORDERED
\h\h\hTHREE MORE NEW CARRIERS

AT A COST OF OVER $42 BILLION.

\h\h\h\hBUT THE USS FORD
WILL ALWAYS BE THE SHIP

THAT CHANGED THE FACE
\h\h\hOF NAVAL WARFARE

\h\hAND BROUGHT IT INTO
THE 21st CENTURY FIGHT.

[JETS ROARING]

IT’S THE CARRIER THAT PROVED
\h\h\h\hAMERICA’S INGENUITY,

\hAND THE NAVY’S DETERMINATION
TO BRING THE BEST INTO BATTLE.

♪

McGrath: WE ALWAYS FIGURE
\h\h\h\hTHESE THINGS OUT.

IT TAKES TIME, TAKES MONEY,
BUT I’M NOT READY TO BELIEVE

THAT WE NEED TO GIVE UP
\hON DOING HARD THINGS.

Narrator: THE USS FORD TOOK ON
\h\h\h\h\hITS CRITICS AND WON.

NOW IT’S READY TO
TAKE ON THE WORLD.

♪