Largest aircraft carrier based on full scale 3D product model

The largest, and most efficient, nuclear aircraft carrier in the world - and the most expensive - is the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78), the lead ship of the US Navy’s newest class of carrier, which will have a fully loaded displacement of around 101,000 metric tons (223,000,000 lb) and is scheduled to be delivered in November 2016. It is also the first aircraft carrier to have been designed using a full-scale 3D product model called CATIA (Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application) V5 release 8 – a 3D Product Lifecycle Management software suite - developed by Dassault Systèmes, (France). Essentially, the programme enables engineers and designers to test visual integration in the design planning and constructions of components and subsystems. Hence rooms within the aircraft carrier can be modular to facilitate upgrades by simply changing boxes. It also facilitated the redesign weapon handling and storage facilities to improve and expedite weapon handling procedures to increase the number of sorties in a given time compared to earlier carrier designs. CATIA is used across a wide range of construction activities in the USS Gerald R Ford.