This Is the Nuclear-Powered Ship Deployed in Trump’s War on Drug Boats

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, is heading to the Caribbean Sea as part of a Pentagon strategy it says is meant to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking in South America.

The news was confirmed late last week by Sean Parnell, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, through his social networks. In his message, he explained that the deployment of the Gerald R. Ford “will strengthen the United States’ ability to detect, monitor and dismantle illicit actors and activities that compromise the security and prosperity of US territory, as well as our stability in the Western Hemisphere.” Until now, only combat vessels and aircraft had been mobilized in the area.

Since last month, President Donald Trump’s administration has maintained a campaign in Caribbean waters aimed at combating drug trafficking, arguing that the activity of various criminal organizations puts the security of the American people at risk. In recent weeks, the US armed forces have targeted several vessels and accused their operators of transporting drugs, a situation that has increased US diplomatic tensions with nations such as Venezuela and Colombia.

The dispatch of the Ford represents an escalation of Washington’s military activity in the region, which, according to specialists, could further increase hostilities.

The Ford has been described as the most advanced and expensive in the world. Its construction had an estimated value of $13 billion, according to military industry press. It is the first of a new generation of aircraft carriers destined to replace the Nimitz class, which since the 1970s has been the mainstay of the US fleet.

The site Naval Technology explains that the Ford class comprises nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, developed by the Newport News Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries for the US Navy as part of the CVN-21 Aircraft Carrier Program.

Bring in the Big Guns

Compared to the Nimitz class, the USS Gerald R. Ford incorporates 23 new or improved systems that optimize transportation, communication, tracking, operational performance, weight tolerance 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. This system, developed by Northrop Grumman, is composed of two reactors, four shafts, and a zonal electrical distribution system, allowing it to sail for up to 20 years without refueling.

The ship operates with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, considered its greatest innovation. This mechanism replaces the traditional steam catapults with a linear electromagnetic accelerator motor, which improves control in the acceleration of manned and unmanned aircraft. In practice, it allows vehicles to be launched at higher speeds, with heavier weaponry or more fuel, extending their range, coverage, and lethality.

Similar technology is used in its 11 advanced weapons elevators that, using electromagnetic rather than hydraulic motors, transport munitions from magazines to the flight deck more quickly and efficiently.

The aircraft carrier is also equipped with a braking system called Advanced Arresting Gear, which uses an electromagnetic motor to control the so-called synthetic arresting cable, reducing its maximum tension and the load on the braking hook and aircraft fuselage. This system makes it possible to stop both drones and supersonic fighters more safely.

The mast integrates planar array radars, an S-band volumetric search radar, and a multifunctional X-band radar, which allow tracking multiple targets simultaneously, both aerial and maritime, hundreds of kilometers away.

In addition, it has a high-precision approach and landing system that, unlike traditional radar-based systems, employs GPS technology corrected by a fixed local reference station installed on the ship. This provides extremely accurate guidance to the landing zone, even in adverse conditions or with vessel movement. Thanks to this digital control, the number of operations is increased with lower energy consumption.

Power Play

The USS Gerald R. Ford can carry an extensive arsenal that includes missiles, cannon shells, bombs, torpedoes, and depth charges intended for anti-submarine warfare.

On deck, the Ford can accommodate up to 90 aircraft for various purposes: F/A-18 Super Hornet, state-of-the-art fighter jets with versions adapted to jam enemy communications; and E-2 Hawkeye, a surveillance and early warning aircraft. This is in addition to helicopters with submarine attack capabilities and tactical transport ships.

The ship can reach speeds in excess of 34 miles per hour (55 kilometers per hour) and perform around 160 air operations per day, a figure that can rise to 220 in crisis or intense warfare scenarios.

The capabilities of this vessel have raised questions about the true intentions of the United States in the Caribbean. An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) warns that the deployment of the Ford suggests more of a political signal and deterrence than to a genuine operation against drug trafficking.

“The administration attributes the carrier’s deployment to an anti-drug mission, and some of its broad capabilities may contribute to ongoing operations,” the CSIS report concludes. “In general, however, these ships are not well suited for surveillance tasks aimed at curbing drug trafficking. On the contrary, they are highly effective for conducting air strikes and supporting amphibious landings. Moving such an important element of US combat power is significant because of the strategic commitment involved.”

This story originally appeared in WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.