WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS20643) on Dec. 28, 2021 entitled "Navy Ford Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke: * * * Summary The aircraft carriers CVN-78, CVN-79, CVN-80, and CVN-81 are the first four ships in the Navy's new Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs). The Navy's proposed FY2022 budget requests $2,659.5 millio  more