Reactors2 x Bechtel A1B pressurised-water reactors, 4 shafts; roughly 3x the electrical generation of a Nimitz-class A4W plant, with margin reserved for future directed-energy and sensor loads
Radar FitCVN-78 only: Dual Band Radar (AN/SPY-3 X-band + AN/SPY-4 S-band). CVN-79 onward: AN/SPY-6(V)3 EASR, first fitted to John F. Kennedy
Class Hulls10 hulls planned (CVN-78 to CVN-87); 5 procured or projected as of 2026 - Gerald R. Ford, John F. Kennedy, Enterprise, Doris Miller and CVN-82
Arresting GearGeneral Atomics Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), common to the class; cited by CRS alongside the weapons elevators as the largest residual risk to class sortie generation
Catapult System4 x General Atomics EMALS electromagnetic launch tracks, common to every hull of the class (replaces C-13 steam catapults)
Delivery ScheduleCVN-78 delivered 2017; CVN-79 March 2027; CVN-80 July 2030; CVN-81 February 2032; CVN-82 projected 2040 (CRS, Dec 2025). A May 2026 Navy plan shows a later profile of 2027/2031/2034/2039 (reported)
Weapons Elevators11 electromagnetic Advanced Weapons Elevators per hull, replacing cable-and-hydraulic elevators
Procurement Cost CapSection 121, FY2020 NDAA (P.L. 116-92): US$13,224 m (CVN-78), US$11,398 m (CVN-79), US$12,202 m (CVN-80), US$12,451 m (CVN-81), then-year dollars