The US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford will set sail back to the US in the coming days, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing multiple US officials.
The Ford and its crew of about 4,500 sailors have been deployed for 309 days as of Thursday, breaking the record for the longest time any modern US aircraft carrier has been at sea. It is currently operating in the Red Sea, while the two other aircraft carriers in the region are in the Arabian Sea, enforcing the US blockade of Iranian ports.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Congress on Wednesday that extending the Ford’s deployment was a result of “a tough decision-making process…in consultation with the Navy.”
Multiple lawmakers expressed concern about the cost of the deployment extension, both for the ship and its crew.
While typical carrier deployments are six or seven months, the Ford left Virginia on June 24 for Europe before being directed to the Caribbean, where it assisted in the US’s operations in and around Venezuela, and then was directed to the Middle East to support US operations against Iran.
Ford expected to require significant maintenance, repairs upon return
While a precise return date has not been named, one official told the Washington Post that the Ford is expected to dock in Virginia around mid-May.
The time at sea has reportedly taken its toll on the ship, which has undergone repairs after a laundry room fire and repeated issues with its toilets, the Washington Post wrote, adding that when the ship returns, it will likely undergo extensive repairs and maintenance.