Ford-Class (Aircraft) Carrier Cost Overruns Appear Likely, GAO Says

[Lurks Often]

5. The existing carriers are getting old and wearing out

The just retired USS Enterprise CVN-65 after 51 years of service. The USS Ford is her replacement and the USS Nimitz is 42 years old. It's kind of like the average car, it reaches an age where it is more expensive to keep it running then the car is worth.

They knew that initial or "capital" expenditure was going to be higher, but the operational cost and total lifetime cost are expected to be lower then the prior Nimitz class. The designed life span of a Ford class carrier is NINETY years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford-class_aircraft_carrier

It certainly isn't unusual for the first of a brand new design to run over budget.

And if we wait for the threat to actually exist, it will be FAR too late to build the carriers we need, something that applies to major equipment for any of the military branches.