The US Navy's $12,9 billion aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford suffered from a propulsion system failure while undergoing sea trials. The details regarding the breakdown have not been disclosed.

The breakdown took place in January but was only disclosed four months later; after Bloomberg News gained access to a US Navy internal memo from Naval Sea Systems Command. Huntington Ingalls told the Navy the failure was triggered by a “manufacturing defect” and “not an improper operation” by US Navy personnel aboard the ship.

The US Navy requested in February to delay the shock testing for at least six years, which were intended to determine how well USS Gerald R. Ford, could withstand attacks.