The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, successfully launched and landed an aircraft with advanced digital, magnetic technology, which replaces the older steam-driven catapult system. The successful missions Friday came less than a week after President Trump commissioned the nearly $13 billion ship in Virginia. "Today, USS Gerald R. Ford made history," said Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces. Prior to Friday’s missions, the new technology had been successfully tested ashore at Lakehurst, N.J., according to the Navy. The aircraft used were A-18F Superhornet fighter jets, based at the naval base at Patuxent River, Md.

Source: Fox News July 29, 2017 19:07 UTC