The Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier was built at a cost of $13 billion and is one of the largest in terms of deck size.How Big, Well for comparison , the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier looks almost the same but the Ford’s deck size is much larger.Let’s break it down further.The Ford has around 25 decks or layers spanning from the bottom of the hull to the top of the superstructure, while the Nimitz-class has about 18 decks.These decks or Layers span vertically through the ship’s hull and superstructure, showing a significant difference in size and capacity.This size difference gives the Ford-class an advantageit typically carries up to 90 aircraft, while the Nimitz-class generally accommodates around 60, though maximum configurations for both can exceed these numbers. That’s roughly a 30-aircraft advantage.But what makes the Ford-class better is the addition of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, which uses electrical and electromagnetic principles to accelerate aircraft smoothly and efficiently off the flight deck, replacing the older, rough steam catapult technology that the Nimitz-class has been using for the last four decades.To help you understand how it works, let’s walk through the process.The Ford-class’s advanced nuclear reactors generate electrical power, which is stored temporarily in capacitors or kinetic energy storage systems.This stored energy is ready to be rapidly released during aircraft launch.When the launch command is given, the stored electrical energy is converted from direct current (DC) to high-frequency alternating current (AC) by power converters.This tailored energy powers a linear synchronous motor system embedded along the flight deck track.The aircraft’s nose gear then connects to an electromagnetically driven shuttle on the catapult track.This shuttle acts as the physical interface that moves the aircraft forward.Here’s the most important part and the reason steam power was replaced: a sequence of electromagnets along the track is energized with precise timing controlled by digital software.These magnets create a moving magnetic field that smoothly pulls and pushes the shuttle, accelerating the aircraft according to a programmed acceleration curve.Once the aircraft reaches takeoff speed—about 155 miles per hour (Or 240 km/hr)—the shuttle releases it, and the aircraft lifts off.The shuttle then slows down electromagnetically and returns to its starting position, ready for the next launch.You might wonder why the Navy chose this costly upgrade over the tried-and-true steam catapults.The answer is simple: electromagnetic takeoff provides smoother acceleration, significantly reducing stress and wear on aircraft frames compared to the harsh forces of steam catapults.Most importantly, Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System is far more versatile.It can launch a wider range of aircraft weights—from heavy fighters to lighter unmanned aerial vehicles with precise control, making it a game-changer for modern naval aviation.