Gerald R. Ford becomes longest-deployed US aircraft carrier since Vietnam War

Published April 15, 2026 9:37pm ET | Updated April 15, 2026 9:37pm ET



The USS Gerald R. Ford has become the longest deployed U.S. aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War, marking a new milestone for the world’s largest ship of its kind.

The vessel has been at sea for 295 days, surpassing the modern-era record of 294 days set by the USS Abraham Lincoln during a 2020 deployment.

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