12/04/2006
https://transcripts.cnn.com...
"The carrier force structure, along with the entire battleforce, is being considered in the QDR."
"The Navy has no current plans to retire an aircraft carrier upon delivery of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)."
"The Navy remains committed to a force structure of 11 carriers and 10 air wings for the next several decades."
"The more we understand technology risk early and manage that risk, the less likely that such risk will present themselves later in the acquisition process and blow out costs."