The Ford-Class. The U.S. Navy Needs Its Largest Aircraft Carrier Ever It’s expensive and has been running late, but the USS Gerald R. Ford is one robust carrier. The UAA Gerald R. Ford Is Mammoth. The Ford’s capabilities should be worth the wait as it is one primo ship. It is 1,092 feet in length and has a beam of 134 feet while the flight deck is 256 feet wide.