US Navy Ford Class Carrier Delays: How OAS Could Have Made a Difference

A recent Aviation A2Z report revealed significant setbacks in the delivery of the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN‑79), the second ship in the Ford‑class lineup. The Navy now expects the vessel to enter service in March 2027, two years behind the original July 2025 schedule. As the article states:

“Delivery of the Navy’s next Ford‑class aircraft carrier, the John F. Kennedy, was delayed two more years to 2027…” ( Aviation A2Z).

The ripple effects of this delay are substantial: the carrier fleet temporarily shrinks, disrupting deployment schedules and straining strategic readiness. While the root causes are complex—ranging from technical integration hurdles (e.g., elevators, EMALS) to shipyard delays—many underlying issues could stem from procurement inefficiencies, opaque budgeting, and inconsistent real-time oversight.

OAS: A Preventive Acquisition Platform

nGAP Inc.’s Open Acquisition System (OAS) is built to bring transparency, real-time insight, and accountability to complex programs like the Ford‑class carrier builds.

Unified Procurement & Financial Oversight

OAS consolidates procurement, supply chain, and financial data into a single platform.

“The Open Acquisition System offers the solution by providing a unified, real-time system for tracking and managing acquisitions… ensuring that every dollar spent is tracked from initial purchase through final disposal down to the penny” (“Solving the Pentagon’s Audit Challenges”).

This approach ensures budgets reflect live progress rather than lagging quarterly or annual audits.

Real‑Time Auditing

Perhaps the most critical is OAS’s real-time audit trail.

“OAS solves this issue by providing a transparent, real-time audit trail for every transaction. Each payment… is recorded in the system, ensuring… auditors can trace funds across the entire lifecycle” (“Mismanagement of Funds Ends”).

With live visibility, funding shortfalls or overspends—whether due to parts shortages, technical redesigns, or shipyard overruns—would be detected instantly, not months later.

Automated Workflows & Compliance

OAS sharpens approval processes and regulatory compliance.

“OAS processes transactions in real time… ensuring immediate transparency and reducing the need for costly audits” (“FARS Insight”).

It also “digitizes and enforces complex federal acquisition protocols, eliminating PDF forms, manual routing, and bottlenecks” (“OAS Approval Automation Insight”).

By “automating workflows and providing real-time data analytics,” OAS ensures “timely delivery of critical systems” (“How OAS Brings Modern Solutions”).

These features reduce administrative lag and accelerate decision-making—a key factor when carrier construction schedules slip.

Preventing Ford‑Class Disruptions with OAS

Imagine CVN‑79’s costly delays being captured live:

• As technical issues arise—whether weapons elevators or EMALS integration—OAS would flag deviations from budget and schedule in real time, enabling rapid redirection of funds or adjustments in procurement.

• Automated alerts and approval chains would minimize bottlenecks in approving contract changes or technical modifications.

• Supply chain disruptions (e.g., specific steel grades or electromagnetic components) would register in OAS dashboards, prompting immediate supplier outreach or alternative sourcing.

• Real-time cost analytics would empower program managers to see cost increases as they occur, not in retrospective reviews.

  
  

Through this active oversight, OAS shifts acquisition control from reactive audits to proactive management—potentially shaving months off delays and millions from overspends.

Conclusion

The current Ford‑class delays expose weak links in large-scale defense acquisition—fragmented budgeting, delayed audits, and cumbersome approval workflows. nGAP’s OAS, with its unified platform, real-time auditing, and automated compliance, offers a robust solution. By embedding transparency and agility into procurement, it could have identified risks early, expedited corrective actions, and kept the carrier program much closer to its projected timelines.

Works Cited

Aviation A2Z. “US Navy Faces Delivery Delays of New Ford‑Class Aircraft Carriers.” Aviation A2Z, 12 July 2025, https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/07/12/us-navy-faces-delivery-delays-of-new-ford-class-aircraft-carriers/.

nGAP Inc. “Solving the Pentagon’s Audit Challenges Starts with Open Acquisition System.” nGAP.com, https://www.ngap.com/post/solving-the-pentagon-s-audit-challenges-starts-with-open-acquisition-system.

nGAP Inc. “Mismanagement of Funds Ends with The Open Acquisition System.” nGAP.com, https://www.ngap.com/post/mismanagement-of-funds-ends-with-the-open-acquisition-system.

nGAP Inc. “FARS Insight – Real‑Time Processing in OAS.” nGAP.com, https://www.ngap.com/post/fars-insight.

nGAP Inc. “OAS Approval Automation Insight.” nGAP.com, https://www.ngap.com/post/oas-approval-automation-insight.

nGAP Inc. “How nGAP’s OAS Brings Modern Solutions to Military Acquisition.” nGAP.com, https://www.ngap.com/post/fixing-the-pentagon-s-procurement-crisis-how-ngap-s-oas-brings-modern-solutions-to-military-acquisi.