Ford-Class: The Navy's $13,000,000,000 Nightmare Blunder?

Summary and Key Points: The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the most expensive warship ever built at $13.3 billion, represents the U.S. Navy's latest in nuclear-powered supercarriers. Although plagued by issues such as clogged toilets and malfunctioning elevators due to its many new technologies, these are seen as part of the learning curve for a first-in-class vessel.

-The Ford-class offers enhanced automation, reduced crew requirements, and improved efficiency over the Nimitz-class, promising...