U.S. Navy to Test USS Gerald R. Ford Powering Norfolk Base With 2 Nuclear Reactors
Updated
Updated · The War Zone · May 24
U.S. Navy to Test USS Gerald R. Ford Powering Norfolk Base With 2 Nuclear Reactors
4 articles · Updated · The War Zone · May 24
This summer, the Navy plans a Norfolk test that will send electricity from USS Gerald R. Ford ashore, demonstrating whether a Ford-class carrier can keep a major base running during outages or attacks.
The effort is part of a broader energy-resilience strategy for mission-critical facilities, with the Navy saying ship-to-shore power could provide firm backup supply when existing grids or other sources fail.
Gerald R. Ford is the only commissioned Ford-class carrier and carries two A1B reactors, which are assessed to deliver about 25% more reactor energy than Nimitz-class A4Ws.
The concept could extend beyond base backup to disaster relief and dispersed operations, including exporting potable water, though using a carrier in port would raise protection and availability concerns for the Navy's 11-carrier fleet.
Ship-to-shore power is not new—the Navy has done it before, and the military once operated the 10-MW MH-1A floating nuclear plant—but this test would gauge whether a modern supercarrier can add that role.
Is using an aircraft carrier for power a stopgap measure or a viable long-term energy solution for the military?
Could nuclear carriers become a new model for powering critical infrastructure beyond just military bases?
Supercarrier as Emergency Power Plant: USS Gerald R. Ford’s 2026 Demonstration and the Evolution of Naval Energy Strategy
Overview
In Summer 2026, the U.S. Navy will conduct a groundbreaking demonstration by using the USS Gerald R. Ford’s advanced nuclear reactors to supply power to Naval Station Norfolk. This test will highlight the supercarrier’s immense energy generation capabilities and explore its potential to support shore infrastructure during emergencies, moving beyond its traditional combat role. At the core of this effort are the ship’s two A1B nuclear reactors, which represent a leap in naval technology. The demonstration aims to show how the Ford can serve as a flexible power source, enhancing both military readiness and energy resilience.