The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, is set to return to the United States after a record deployment of more than 300 days that spanned multiple conflict zones, including operations linked to Iran and Venezuela, the Associated Press reported, citing US officials.
The carrier will leave the Middle East in the coming days and is expected to reach its home port in Virginia by mid-May, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military movements.
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Its departure comes even as tensions around Iran remain high, with the US recently deploying three aircraft carriers to the region — a rare show of force not seen since 2003.
Alongside the Ford, the USS George HW Bush and the USS Abraham Lincoln were positioned in the Middle East during a fragile ceasefire phase in the Iran conflict.
The Ford's nearly 10-month deployment has set a post-Vietnam War record, surpassing the previous benchmark of 294 days held by the USS Abraham Lincoln during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to US Naval Institute data.
The prolonged mission, however, has raised concerns over crew fatigue and operational strain.
During its deployment, the carrier also suffered a fire in a laundry area, forcing repairs and disrupting onboard accommodation for sailors.
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Addressing the extended deployment during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the challenges, saying, “Multiple times the operational requirements – whether it was down in Southcom or up to Centcom – demanded additional assets in real time, which through a tough decision-making process led to an extension.”
The USS Gerald R. Ford began its mission in the Mediterranean before being rerouted to the Caribbean and later to the Middle East as geopolitical tensions intensified. It also played a role in the operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
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