How much does a Ford carrier weigh?
The Ford-class aircraft carrier weighs about 100,000 long tons when fully loaded (roughly 101,600 metric tons or 112,000 short tons), with actual weight varying based on fuel, aircraft, and stores on board.
Named for the lead ship, the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the Ford-class represents the United States Navy’s latest generation of aircraft carriers. These behemoths are designed to project air power globally while integrating new systems and technologies, which means their weight can shift with mission configuration, resupply, and maintenance cycles.
What weight means for these ships
In naval terms, a carrier’s weight is described by displacement—the weight of water it displaces while afloat. The commonly cited figure for Ford-class carriers is the full-load displacement, which accounts for fuel, aircraft, weapons, and onboard supplies. Weight is not a fixed value; it varies with how the ship is configured for a given mission.
Displacement explained
Displacement is the standard measure used to express a ship’s mass at a given condition. For the Ford-class, full-load displacement represents the ship at maximum fuel, munitions, aircraft, and consumables on board, ready for operations. This is the number most often used when discussing weight with the public and in official summaries.
Below are the key weight-related figures commonly cited for Ford-class carriers, followed by a brief discussion of what affects these numbers.
- Full-load displacement: about 100,000 long tons (approximately 101,600 metric tons or 112,000 short tons).
- Length: 1,106 feet (337 meters).
- Beam (flight deck): 134 feet (40.8 meters).
- Flight deck area: about 4.5 acres.
- Propulsion: two nuclear reactors powering two shaft lines, enabling speeds in excess of 30 knots.
These figures illustrate how the ship’s mass is defined and what factors drive changes in weight during operations, such as refueling, aircraft rotations, and resupply.
Factors that affect the carrier's weight
Weight on board varies with mission needs. A carrier’s payload can include different aircraft, fuel, munitions, and stores, all of which contribute to the full-load figure. In practice, fleets tailor the loadout to balance range, sortie rate, and survivability while preserving stability at sea.
Summary
In brief, a Ford-class aircraft carrier weighs about 100,000 long tons when fully loaded, with exact numbers dependent on configuration and mission. The class’ design emphasizes heavy displacement combined with advanced propulsion, automation, and carrier-air-wing integration to sustain operations around the world.
