Number: RS20643 Title: Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress Authors: Ronald O'Rourke, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Abstract: The Navy's proposed FY2009 budget requested $2,712 million in procurement funding for CVN-78, the first ship in the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) class of aircraft carriers, which was earlier known as the CVN-21 class. Although CVN-78 was procured in FY2008, the Navy's budget includes procurement funding for the ship in FY2009, FY2010, and FY2011. The Navy's proposed FY2008 budget also requested $1,214 million in advance procurement funding for CVN-79, the second ship in the class, which the Navy wants to procure in FY2012. The Navy's estimated procurement costs for CVN-78 and CVN-79 are about $10.5 billion and $9.2 billion, respectively. Pages: 6 Date: November 20, 2008