This is the nuclear ship deployed in Trump’s war on drug boats
USS Gerald R. FordThe US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier is heading to the Caribbean as part of a strategy the Pentagon says is to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking in South America.
This news was confirmed late last week by Sean Parnell, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, through his social networks. He explained in his message that the establishment Gerald R. Ford It will strengthen the United States’ ability to identify, monitor, and neutralize illegal actors and activities that threaten the security and well-being of the United States, as well as our stability in the Western Hemisphere. Until now, only warships and warplanes had been mobilized in this area.
Since last month, US President Donald Trump’s administration has continued its campaign in Caribbean waters to combat drug trafficking, arguing that the activities of various criminal organizations threaten the security of the American people. In recent weeks, US armed forces have targeted several ships and accused their operators of drug trafficking, a situation that has heightened US diplomatic tensions with countries such as Venezuela and Colombia.
dispatch from Ford It indicates the escalation of Washington’s military activity in the region, which, according to experts, could increase hostilities.
particle for direct object Ford It has been described as the most advanced and most expensive in the world. According to the military industry press, its construction cost about 13 billion dollars. It is the first of a new generation of aircraft carriers to replace the Nimitz class, which has been a mainstay of the US fleet since the 1970s.
The Naval Technology site explains that Ford The class includes nuclear-powered aircraft carriers developed by the Newport News Shipbuilding Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries for the United States Navy as part of the CVN-21 aircraft carrier program.
Bring on the big guns
Compared to the Nimitz class, the USS Gerald R. Ford It includes 23 new or improved systems that optimize transportation, communications, tracking, operational performance, weight bearing and stability functions, among other aspects.
The ship displaces nearly 100,000 tons, is 333 meters long and 40.8 meters wide, and has a flight deck 78 meters wide. One of its main innovations is its advanced nuclear propulsion system, which improves power generation and distribution by 150 percent over its predecessors. Built by Northrop Grumman, the system consists of two reactors, four shafts and a regional electrical distribution system that allows it to operate for 20 years without refueling.
This ship works with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system, which is considered its biggest innovation. This mechanism replaces traditional steam catapults with an electromagnetic linear accelerator motor that improves control in the acceleration of manned and unmanned aircraft. In practice, it allows vehicles to be launched at higher speeds, with heavier weapons or more fuel, increasing their range, coverage and lethality.
