This is the nuclear-powered ship deployed in Trump’s war on drug boats

USS Gerald R. FordThe US’s most advanced aircraft carrier is heading to the Caribbean Sea as part of a strategy the Pentagon says is aimed at strengthening the fight against terrorism. 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 letter that the publication Gerald R. Ford “It will enhance the United States’ ability to detect, monitor, and dismantle illicit actors and activities that threaten the security and prosperity of the American homeland, as well as our stability in the Western Hemisphere.” So far, only ships and combat aircraft have been massed in the area.

Since last month, the administration of President Donald Trump has continued a campaign in Caribbean waters aimed at combating drug trafficking, arguing that the activity of various criminal organizations endangers the security of the American people. In recent weeks, the US Armed Forces have targeted several ships and accused their operators of transporting drugs, a situation that has increased US diplomatic tensions with countries such as Venezuela and Colombia.

Dispatch the Ford This represents an escalation of Washington’s military activity in the region, which, according to specialists, may lead to an increase in hostilities.

the Ford It has been described as the most advanced and most expensive in the world. Its construction value is estimated at $13 billion, according to the British newspaper “Daily Mail”. Military industry press. It is the first of a new generation of aircraft carriers scheduled to replace the Nimitz class, which since the 1970s has been a mainstay of the US fleet.

Marine Technology website He explains that Ford The class includes nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, developed by the Newport News Shipbuilding Division of US Marine Corporation’s Huntington Ingalls Corporation as part of the CVN-21 aircraft carrier program.

Bring the big guns

Compared to the Nimitz class, the USS Gerald R. Ford It includes 23 new or improved systems that improve transportation functions, communications, tracking, operational performance, weight bearing and stability, among other aspects.

The ship weighs approximately 100,000 tons, is 333 meters long and 40.8 meters wide, and the flight deck is 78 meters wide. One of its major innovations is its advanced nuclear propulsion system, which improves power generation and distribution by 150% compared to its predecessors. This system, developed by Northrop Grumman, consists of two reactors, four shafts and a zonal electrical distribution system, allowing it to cruise for up to 20 years without refueling.

The ship operates with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system, considered its greatest innovation. This mechanism replaces traditional steam catapults with a linear electromagnetic acceleration motor, improving the acceleration control of manned and unmanned aircraft. In practice, this system allows vehicles to be launched at higher speeds, with heavier weapons or more fuel, increasing their range, coverage and lethality.