<P> The Ford class is designed to accommodate the new Joint Strike Fighter carrier variant aircraft (F - 35C), but aircraft development and testing delays have affected integration activities on CVN - 78 . These integration activities include testing the F - 35C with CVN - 78's EMALS and advanced arresting gear system and testing the ship's storage capabilities for the F - 35C's lithium - ion batteries (which provide start - up and back - up power), tires, and wheels . As a result of F - 35C developmental delays, the US Navy will not field the aircraft until at least 2018--one year after CVN - 78 delivery . As a result, the Navy has deferred critical F - 35C integration activities, which introduces risk of system incompatibilities and costly retrofits to the ship after it is delivered to the Navy . </P> <P> Systems that reduce crew workload have allowed the ship's company on Ford - class carriers to total only 2,600 sailors, about 600 fewer than a Nimitz - class carrier . The massive, 180 - man berthing areas on the Nimitz class are replaced by 40 - rack berthing areas on Ford - class carriers . The smaller berthings are quieter and the layout requires less foot traffic through other spaces . The racks are typically stacked three high, with one locker per person and extra lockers for those without storage space under their rack . The berthings do not feature modern "sit - up" racks with more headroom (each rack can only accommodate a sailor lying down). Each berthing has an associated head, including showers, vacuum - powered septic - system toilets (no urinals since the berthings are built gender - neutral) and sinks to reduce travel and traffic to access those facilities . Wifi - enabled lounges are located across the passageway in separate spaces from the berthing's racks . </P> <P> Construction began on 11 August 2005, when Northrop Grumman held a ceremonial steel cut for a 15 - ton plate that will form part of a side shell unit of the carrier . Construction began on components of CVN - 78 in early 2007 and is nearing completion . It is under the final steps of construction at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (formerly Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding) in Newport News, Virginia . This is the only shipyard in the United States capable of building nuclear - powered aircraft carriers . </P> <P> In 2005, it was estimated to cost at least $8 billion excluding the $5 billion spent on research and development (though that was not expected to be representative of the cost of future members of the class). A 2009 report said that Ford would cost $14 billion including research and development, and the actual cost of the carrier itself would be $9 billion . The life - cycle cost per operating day of a carrier strike group (including aircraft) was estimated at $6.5 million in 2013 published by the Center for New American Security . </P>

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