U.S. Navy To Test USS Gerald R. Ford As Floating Nuclear Power Plant At Naval Station Norfolk

The USS Gerald R. Ford could soon become more than just a warship. The U.S. Navy is preparing to test whether the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier can supply electricity to facilities on land during port visits.

The planned trial at Naval Station Norfolk would allow the carrier to send electricity generated by its onboard nuclear reactors to the naval base instead of taking power from shore.

The project is part of a Pentagon effort to improve energy security at military bases during conflicts, cyberattacks, natural disasters, or major power outages.

If successful, the carrier could act as a temporary floating nuclear power station for military installations and possibly support civilian infrastructure during emergencies.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said the Navy plans to export electricity from an aircraft carrier to Naval Station Norfolk later this year.

A Navy spokesperson later confirmed that the test is part of a strategy aimed at improving “energy resilience and mission assurance” at U.S. military facilities.

The Navy said the test would demonstrate the ability of a Ford-class aircraft carrier to provide power to a shore installation during emergency situations.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is powered by two A1B nuclear reactors. These reactors are designed to produce much more electrical power than the older A4W reactors used on Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.

The exact output remains classified, but the reactors are believed to generate around 25% more energy than previous carrier reactor systems.

During the test, electricity would flow from the carrier through a shore connection system into the base’s electrical network.

The process is technically complex because naval power systems must be carefully matched with shore-based voltage and frequency systems.

The Navy has not released detailed technical information about the equipment that would be used during the trial.

The idea behind the project is to reduce dependence on diesel generators and improve power reliability at military bases, especially during emergencies or conflicts where fuel supplies and local power grids could be disrupted.

The Pentagon is also looking at how aircraft carriers could support disaster-relief operations by supplying electricity and fresh drinking water to affected areas.

Hung Cao said aircraft carriers already produce millions of gallons of potable water every day through onboard desalination systems and that this capability could also help areas facing droughts or disasters.

Using ships to provide electricity ashore is not new.

In 1929, the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2) helped supply electricity to Tacoma, Washington, after hydroelectric power shortages affected the city.

During World War II, several destroyer escorts were converted into floating power stations.

The U.S. Army also operated the MH-1A Sturgis, a floating nuclear power plant used in the Panama Canal Zone between 1968 and 1975.

Still, using a modern nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in this role creates new operational and regulatory challenges.

Although naval reactors are controlled by the Navy, connecting them to civilian-linked power grids could require coordination with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and state authorities.

There are also concerns about whether exporting electricity during port visits could affect carrier maintenance schedules, reactor operations, or deployment readiness.

The USS Gerald R. Ford recently completed one of the longest U.S. aircraft carrier deployments since the Vietnam War era after spending more than 295 consecutive days at sea.

The Navy has not announced an exact date for the Norfolk test, and officials say the programme is still in the exploratory stage.

References: TWZ, interestingengineering