US Deploys World’s Largest Aircraft Carrier Toward Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Conflict

The U.S. Navy is set to deploy its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Mediterranean Sea as tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate.

The USS Ford, currently stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, has completed its training and maintenance cycle after returning from deployment in January 2024.

Navy officials said the upcoming deployment is part of a regular schedule to the U.S. European Command area, which includes Europe, Russia, the Mediterranean, and parts of southwest Asia.

The carrier’s deployment will make it the third U.S. aircraft carrier strike group positioned within reach of the Middle East. The USS Carl Vinson is already stationed in the Arabian Sea, and the USS Nimitz is currently on its way west from the Strait of Malacca after leaving the South China Sea.

The Nimitz was originally scheduled for a port call in Da Nang, Vietnam, but the plan was changed due to what U.S. officials described as an “emergent operational requirement.” The ship tracking data confirmed that its now heading toward the Middle East.

Each carrier strike group typically includes an aircraft carrier, a guided-missile cruiser, two or more destroyers, an attack submarine, and an air wing of F/A-18 Super Hornets.

Some carriers also operate F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. While the Ford is not yet equipped to handle F-35s, plans are in place to upgrade it for that capability.

According to a U.S. Navy official speaking to Norfolk-based WAVY news, the USS The Sullivans and USS Arleigh Burke fired interceptors to shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Israel over the weekend. The USS Thomas Hudner has since joined operations in the area, while the Arleigh Burke has moved away from the zone.

The USS Ford’s previous deployment began in May 2023 and was initially planned for six months in the European Command area. However, it was extended due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

During its return period, the ship underwent a scheduled magnetic calibration, known as a “deperm,” near Norfolk Naval Shipyard, as part of its regular maintenance.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, built at a cost of around $13 billion, is the first ship in its class and represents the most advanced aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy.

The vessel is 1,100 feet long and powered by nuclear reactors, are carries around 5,000 sailors. It features next-generation systems like the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), both designed to improve aircraft launch and recovery operations.

The ship faced delays and technical problems in its early years, but Navy officials now say the Ford has proven itself as a capable and mature warfighting platform.

References: NyPost, 13newsnow

Source: Maritime Shipping News