Ford completes combat systems ship's qualification trials

摘要

The aircraft carrier Gerald Ford (CVN-78) completed its Combat Systems Ship's Qualification Trials earlier this month as the carrier moves toward full ship shock trials this summer, the Navy announced Friday. The ship completed the trials on April 17 after finishing the final phase, during which the carrier faced off against rocket-propelled drones that moved faster than 600 miles per hour, towed drone units that simulate rockets and highspeed maneuvering surface targets, the Navy said in a press release. The ship's crew used rolling airframe missile launchers to fire RIM-116 missiles, NATO launchers to fire Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles and its MK-15 Phalanx Close-in Weapon System to fire armor-piercing tungsten bullets, the Navy said. The missiles successfully engaged and took out their targets, Larry Daugherty, the ship's CSSQT project officer, said in the press release.