USS Gerald R. Ford: The U.S. Navy’s Problem Child 100,000 Ton Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

USS Gerald R. Ford: The U.S. Navy’s Problem Child 100,000 Ton Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

Summary and Key Points: National security analyst Stephen Silver evaluates the operational status of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) following a March 12, 2026, laundry room fire in the Red Sea. Currently supporting Operation Epic Fury near Saudi Arabia, the carrier is on track for a historic 11-month deployment, nearing the 332-day record set by the USS Midway during the Vietnam War. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston …