Considering the ramp-up in violence in the Near East, the USS Gerald R. Ford could have an eventful deployment.
The world’s largest warship departed Norfolk, Virginia, to commence its scheduled deployment on June 24. Nearly 4,500 sailors aboard USS Gerald R. Ford make up Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Twelve, which is considered to be the “most capable, adaptable and lethal naval mission package” across the globe, according to the commander of the CSG, Rear. Adm. Paul Lanzilotta. As part of its deployment, Ford will sail in the Atlantic to support the US European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility. “We are headed to the European theater of operations. That’s our first stop,” Lanzilotta said. “We’re mobile and maneuverable. We can go where tasked and then respond.” The ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could ultimately divert the Ford’s trajectory. When the massive aircraft carrier was last deployed in the Mediterranean Sea in October 2023, the Ford’s presence in the region was extended several times. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Harry S. Truman also saw their scheduled deployments extended in the Red Sea over the last year and a half.
An Overview of the Ford-class Carriers
The US Navy’s fleet of 10 Nimitz-class and one Ford-class aircraft carriers unquestionably dominate the seas in terms of warship power. No other military in the world possesses a nuclear-powered fleet as capable as the US Navy’s. While the Nimitz-class has remained the cornerstone of the service’s sea-based strategy for nearly half a century, the Ford ships represent the newest generation of “supercarriers.” The Nimitz are still virtually unparalleled when it comes to foreign competitors, but the carrier platform has limited ability to support emerging technologies. The Ford-class was conceptualized in part to rectify this shortcoming.
When the service first drafted the CVN-21 program, enhancements including larger flight decks, greater weapons handling, and an advanced propulsion plant were prioritized. The resulting Ford-class is technically and mechanically superior to its Nimitz predecessors. Perhaps the most impressive attributes fitted to these warships are the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear. Equipped with EMALS and AAG in place, the Ford carriers are capable of launching 25 percent more sorties in addition to generating triple the amount of electrical power. The Ford ships also sport the Ship Self-Defense System, an integrated warfare system that enables the vessels to adapt to new missions more seamlessly. In terms of power, the Ford carriers feature the new Bechtel A1B reactor, which is superior to the A4W reactors that power the Nimitz-class. In all, these enhancements give the Ford carriers an edge over all of their counterparts.
Considering the ramp-up in violence in the Near East, USS Ford could very well end up in the CENTCOM area of command at some point during its deployment. The commanding officer of the carrier, Capt. Dave Skarosi, expressed “I have no doubt that this ship and crew will face and overcome any challenges with overwhelming force and fortitude, showcasing the power and lethality of the Ford-class carrier to the world.”
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: DVIDS.
