New U.S. Navy aircraft carrier delayed for more testing

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has delayed plans for delivery by up to eight weeks of its latest aircraft carrier, Gerald R. Ford, saying further testing is needed.

The carrier, developed by Newport News Shipbuilding, was initially scheduled for delivery and sea trials by March 31, 2016. A Navy official says a new specific date for release will follow more testing.

"The Navy has identified a slight deterioration in the required progress on the CVN 78 shipboard test program," read a U.S. Navy statement on the matter, "the exact impact on ship delivery will be determined based on the results of sea trials."

U.S. Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Thurraya Kent says that despite the setbacks, the additional costs for the testing is covered under their budget, capped by Congress at $12.88 billion.

Developers are scheduled to report on the carrier's progress to the Senate Armed Services Committee on October 1. Committee chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has voiced concern over the Gerald R. Ford carrier's status.

"I remain concerned that the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) design is still not stable given its dependence on completing design and development of major systems like the Advanced Arresting Gear," Sen. McCain said in a statement.

Development was already delayed by a Pentagon order to conduct full shock tests on the Gerald R. Ford rather than the second ship in the class, the John F. Kennedy, which is already under construction.

However, Navy officials point out that significant progress has been made in the development process, saying the Gerald R. Ford is 93 percent complete.