On the whole, any USN ship building programs have some issues that needs effort to resolve. The US Congress gave the US Navy US$1.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2020 to buy the lead ship for the FFG(X) programme, for which the US Navy is still in the process of selecting a shipbuilder. The US Navy is currently considering bids for the program. Austal USA proposed a design based on its Independence-variant LCS. Fincantieri and its Marinette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin proposed a design based on Fincantieri’s FREMM Italian frigate design. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia are pairing on a bid based on the F100 frigate design. And Huntington Ingalls Industries proposed a design it has not talked publicly about. See:
Navy Budgeting $1.1B for 2nd Frigate as Timeline Slows - USNI News
Though lower than the cost of the lead FFG(X) ship, the US$1.1 billion for the second ship is above the ultimate cost goal of US $800 million (constant year 2018 dollars) for the average follow ships (i.e. ships 2-20). The threshold cost for average follow ships is $950M (constant year 2018 dollars). The US Navy’s new acquisition profile, as outlined in the FY 2021 budget request, would buy just one a year in 2021 and 2022, go up to two in 2023 and 2024, and then go up to three frigates in 2025.
Video of testing of EMALS and AAG aboarg CVN-78 UUS Gerald R Ford.
Finally some good news for the troubled Ford class carrier program. Michael Fabey writing for Jane's Navy International, on 5 Feb 2020 has reported that USS Ford has completed aircraft compatibility testing. This class of Super Carriers are intended to sustain 160 sorties per day for 30-plus days, with a surge capability of 270 sorties per day. See:
Carrier Ford completes aircraft compatibility testing | Jane's 360