The newest aircraft carrier in the American fleet, the USS Gerald R. Ford, sailed out of Norfolk Tuesday afternoon on its first deployment, the first ship of a new class of carrier, CNN reports.
The Ford will join up with ships of the US fleet and go on a tour of the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean to join up with some ships from allied navies–a way of showing off the US Navy’s shiny new toy.
Two other Ford-class ships are currently under construction: the USS Kennedy and the USS Enterprise. The ships utilize an innovative electromagnetic aircraft launch system, which replaces the traditional steam-powered launch and catch systems with a hi-tech system. While it failed to perform to spec in early testing, the Navy claims the EMALS has improved to meet requirements.