US EditionUSS Ford aircraft carrier will be heading home after record-breaking deployment
The carrier carried about 4,500 personnel and set a post-Vietnam War deployment record after operations in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Middle East.
- In mid-May, the USS Gerald R. Ford will leave the Middle East after a nearly 10-month deployment, returning to its Virginia home port with approximately 4,500 personnel aboard.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated operational requirements in Southcom and Centcom 'demanded additional assets in real time,' leading to the extension through a 'tough decision-making process' involving readiness and maintenance trade-offs.
- The carrier's 295-day tour set a record for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment, surpassing the USS Lincoln's 294-day record from 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Returning now, the Ford requires immediate maintenance and inspections, forcing schedule reshuffling that reduces carrier availability across the U.S. naval fleet in the Middle East.
- Although three American aircraft carriers recently operated in the Middle East—a level unseen since 2003—the Ford's departure signals potential strain on sailors' welfare and fleet readiness.
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After a record-breaking deployment of more than 300 days that included participation in the war against Iran and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the world's largest aircraft carrier is finally returning home. The USS Gerald R. Ford will depart the Middle East in the coming days and will be in its home port of Virginia in mid-May.
After nearly 10 months in service, the US aircraft carrier "USS Gerald R. Ford" returns from the Iran war.
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is scheduled to leave the Middle East in the next few days, ending a 10-month deployment for 4,500 sailors. An analysis.
The Gerald R. Ford sailed from its base in June 2025 with an initial destination of Europe, but was then redirected to the Caribbean to end up in the Middle East - It was damaged after a fire in a laundry area
According to government officials, the largest aircraft carrier of the US Navy is to leave the Middle East in the coming days. Israel apparently intercepted aid ships for Gaza near Greece.
USS Gerald R Ford To Leave West Asia Region: US Aircraft Carrier Likely To Exit Middle East As Iran Talks Stagnate, Says Report
A US aircraft carrier, alongwith its strike group is likely to vacate the West Asia region in a few days, CBS reported, citing confirmation by a top US official on Wednesday (local time). USS Gerald R Ford To Leave West Asia Region: US Aircraft Carrier Likely To Exit Middle East As Iran Talks Stagnate, Says Report.
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