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USS Gerald R. Ford completed the first explosive event of the ongoing full-ship shock trials on Friday off the US East Coast. Photo: US Navy

Dramatic photos show new US aircraft carrier in explosion ‘shock trial’

  • Live explosives near warship meant to simulate actual combat conditions
  • The US Navy hopes top have carrier ready for deployment before 2024
Defence

The US Navy has started a series of tests on its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier by detonating powerful explosions to determine whether the ship is ready for war.

The first of the tests, which are known as Full Ship Shock Trials, occurred Friday when the US Navy set off a giant explosive event near the USS Gerald R. Ford, according to a statement.

Images and video footage showed an enormous burst of water shoot from the ocean as a result of what US media called a 40,000-pound (18,144kg) explosion.

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US Navy sets off explosives to test new aircraft carrier

US Navy sets off explosives to test new aircraft carrier

The US Geological Survey said the explosion, which occurred in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast, registered as a 3.9 magnitude earthquake.

Though the US Navy has conducted shock trials with other vessels, the latest trials with the Ford, mark the first time since 1987 the US Navy has conducted shock trials with an aircraft carrier.

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The last aircraft carrier shock trials involved the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to the US Navy.

The US Navy “conducts shock trials of new ship designs using live explosives to confirm that our warships can continue to meet demanding mission requirements under harsh conditions they might encounter in battle,” it said in the statement.

After the trials, the warship will undergo maintenance and repairs.

The tests are being conducted “within a narrow schedule that complies with environmental mitigation requirements, respecting known migration patterns of marine life in the test area,” the US Navy added.

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The US Navy planned to have the carrier ready for deployment by 2024, but in May, Rear Admiral James Downey, programme executive officer for aircraft carriers, suggested the service might be able to get there sooner.

There are three other Ford-class carriers in various stages of procurement and development, namely USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), USS Enterprise (CVN-80), and USS Doris Miller (CVN-81).

Additional reporting by Business Insider

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