The Ford had more new systems introduced into a Carrier design than any carrier since the first (The USS Langley) (Maybe more). It is not a normal launch.
They’ve had plenty of problems with some of the new systems. Here are some of them.
- An Electromagnetic Launching System (EMALS) have replaced the Steam Catapults. (Faster and take up less space)
- Advanced Arresting Gear
- 11 Advanced Weapons Elevators (a major issue sadly but now resolved)
- The Radar systems, AN/SPY-3 and AN/SPY-4 active electronically scanned array multi-function, multi-band radar
- a taller island set 140’ back.
- Lots of automation to reduce crew size. From up to 6000 down to 4500.
- I believe the Nuclear power plants and definitely the electrical generation systems are more robust.
- State of the art computer systems