The biggest risk for cost growth and developmental concerns for the proposed CVN 21 aircraft carrier remain the new systems being planned for the U.S. Navy's newest ship, estimated to cost about $8.1 billion, said Capt. Michael Schwartz, service program manager for future carriers.

The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and advanced arresting gear being developed by General Atomics, as well as the dual-band radar system being crafted by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, still have to be proven as carrier-worthy and ready, Schwartz said.

Shipboard prototype

The Navy and contractors are doing all they can to make sure that will happen before the systems are put on the ships, Schwartz said during a March 12 interview.

The EMALS, for example, already has a prototype and is being developed into a shipboard prototype next year, Schwartz said. The system will be put through thousands of test flights, he said.

The extensive development and testing is part of the Navy's plans to iron out any problems early in EMALS and other new systems, when it's cheaper and easier to fix them.

"We have extensive land-based test areas in our budget," said Rear Adm. David Architzel, program executive officer for carriers.

Some of the testing equipment at Wallops Island, Va., for example, will be used to make sure the new dual-band radar system meets the needs of the carriers. The radars are part of a plan to put a smaller command island on the carrier in order to add more deck space for aircraft operations. Generating greater numbers of aircraft sorties is one of the major priorities in designing and deploying the new carrier.

Other carrier development efforts to increase those sorties include a new weapons loading system and redesigned ship features such as eliminating an aircraft elevator and moving the new island more toward the aft of the ship.