Public reporting indicates that Ford was scheduled to be out of service for an extended period for other reasons as well. In many ways she remains experimental but this is about to change.

Some of the below may be outdated or incorrect.

Radar upgrade: some reports state the US Navy is replacing the costly, maintenance-heavy Dual Band Radar (SPY-3 and SPY-4) on Ford with the modernized SPY-6 (specifically the SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar). Think of SPY-6 as “Super Aegis”. She originally used a combination of the SPY-3 (X-band) and SPY-4 (S-band) radars, which collectively made up the Dual Band Radar (DBR). The replacement is the SPY-6(V)3. This fixed-array variant uses fewer components, providing reduced costs and significantly greater reliability. Subsequent Ford-class aircraft carriers (beginning with USS John F. Kennedy / CVN-79) were built utilizing the SPY-6(V)3 from the get-go. Other radar arrays and sensitive electronics degraded by harsh maritime environments are also being restored.

Flight deck upgrade: Ford was not built to operate F-35 fighter jets from the start. While she is the Navy’s most advanced supercarrier, her initial design and construction predated the finalized specifications for the F-35C. Modifications to operate F-35s, such as upgraded jet blast deflectors and specialized deck coatings to withstand the F-35C’s 3,600°F exhaust, are being integrated during the upcoming maintenance period. This alone will take months to complete.

Plumbing System Upgrade: crews are completely overhauling the beleaguered Vacuum Collection, Holding, and Transfer (VCHT) system (ships' toilets) which suffered reliability problems. The upgrade includes replacing worn valves, inspecting pipes for corrosion, and modernizing the system’s control software to improve reliability.

Aviation & Combat Systems Maintenance: following the launch and recovery of thousands of aircraft, the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) are undergoing rigorous inspections and servicing.

Propulsion & Reactor Overhaul: deep maintenance is being performed on the ship’s A1B nuclear reactors and propulsion components.

She’s going to be out of service for quite a while. When she returns to service, she is expected to be fully operational and updated, on par with USS John F. Kennedy CVN-79 and the new USS Enterprise CVN-80.