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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The Ford, the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, departed from Norfolk, Virginia, in June 2025 for what was initially planned as a routine deployment. Since then, the mission has been extended multiple times as the ship was redirected across several regions in response to conflict.
The carrier first conducted operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean before being sent to the Caribbean in support of U.S. efforts targeting Venezuela. It was later ordered to the Middle East, where it has played a central role in operations tied to the war in Iran.
While the Ford’s deployment is the longest in recent decades, it remains short of the all-time record set during the Vietnam War, when carriers were deployed more than 300 days.
However, record-breaking deployment has raised concerns about the impact on service members.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) criticized the extended deployment, warning of the toll on crew readiness and morale, and threw a jab at President Donald Trump.
“They should be home with their loved ones, not sent around the world by a President who acts like the U.S. military is his palace guard,” Kaine said in a statement posted on X.
The carrier has also faced operational challenges at sea, including a laundry room fire that damaged sleeping quarters, temporarily misplacing sailors. Despite the incident, Navy officials have said the ship remains fully operational.
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The Ford carries more than 4,000 sailors and can deploy over 75 aircraft, making it a central component of U.S. naval power projection.
The carrier is expected to return to port in late May, concluding a nearly 11-month deployment, according to officials.
