This US LASER Aircraft Carrier Is Ready To Beat China The Gerald Ford is 1,105 feet long compared to the Nimitz's 1,092. The waterline width, is almost the same, 134 feet. The displacement is the same as the ton - 98425 tons for both ships. However, if you look closely, you will notice that the silhouettes of the ships are somewhat different. The Gerald Ford's deckhouse is located closer to the stern and the bridge is not visible. It is located on the lower deck to reduce the size of the superstructure. The superstructure is located over the sideline. This made the deck more spacious. But that's not why the CVN-78 costs twice as much as any other aircraft carrier! No, of course, it isn't. It's all about the stuffing.