Israel-Iran Crisis: US to deploy its most modern aircraft carrier to the Middle East

TheUSS Gerald R. Ford will depart for Europe next week, a Navy official announced Friday, the third U.S. aircraft carrier to be closest to the Middle East, where Israel and Iran are trading attacks for an eighth day.

Israel launched an unprecedented offensive against Iran last Friday, in which US President Donald Trump said he did not participate, although he has already opened the door to intervening in the war in support of Israel.

The aircraft carrier Gerald Ford will depart Norfolk, Virginia, on the morning of June 24 for a scheduled deployment regularly in the area of ​​responsibility of the United States European Command," the official reported.

The US aircraft carrier strike group Carl Vinson has been involved in a Middle East campaign against Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels since the beginning of the year.

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A U.S. Department of Defense official confirmed that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth ordered the deployment of the Nimitz aircraft carrier to the Middle East to maintain "defensive strength and safeguard American personnel" in the region.

Trump said Thursday he will decide whether to join Israel's attacks on Iran within the next two weeks, citing the possibility of negotiations to end the conflict.

What is USS Gerald R. Ford?

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is the most modern and advanced aircraft carrier in the United States Navy.

Named after the country's 38th president, this ship was officially commissioned in 2017 as the first unit of a new class of aircraft carriers that will gradually replace the Nimitz class.

With a displacement exceeding 100,000 tons and a length of over 330 meters, the Gerald R. Ford represents a significant evolution in design, operational efficiency and naval combat power.

Among its notable features is its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) , which replaces older steam catapults, allowing for faster and less damaging takeoff operations for aircraft.

It also features advanced dual-band radar systems, a more efficient A1B nuclear reactor, and multiple process automation, reducing the required crew to approximately 4,600, a smaller number compared to previous aircraft carriers.

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The USS Gerald R. Ford is designed to operate for more than 50 years and can accommodate more than 75 aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, MH-60R/S helicopters, and possibly combat drones.

Its primary function is to project air power in conflict zones, conduct humanitarian operations, and ensure the U.S. naval presence in strategic regions of the world.

In 2023, it participated in live operations for the first time with deployments to the Mediterranean in response to tensions in the Middle East.

ORP