NORFOLK, Va., (WAVY) — The U.S. Navy is planning to use a Ford-Class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to help power Naval Station Norfolk, a Navy spokesperson told Nexstar’s WAVY.

The experiment is a way for the military to use another source of power. The Ford-Class ships are, the newest in the Navy’s fleet. Engineers hope to harness the energy from ship to shore.

The first test will start later this year, according to the Navy.

“The Department of the Navy is executing a multi-pronged strategy to ensure the delivery of firm, baseload power to our installations for energy resilience and mission assurance,” the spokesperson said.

“One line of effort in the strategy is to deliver power from a Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to a compatible shore installation, to demonstrate the capability to meet emergent, mission critical needs,” they added.

This comes after Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated that “Norfolk Naval Base would be powered by an aircraft carrier” at his fiscal 2027 budget request committee hearing on May 14.

While no ship was specifically named by the Navy for this test, the only current Ford-class aircraft carrier in active service is the USS Gerald R. Ford.

No additional information was provided.

WAVY will continue to monitor this, and will bring you the latest updates once they are received.

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