Navy's Flagship Carrier Faces Record-Breaking Deployment Amid Iran Tensions
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, is expected to remain at sea for 11 months, according to Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby. The carrier, which has been deployed since June 2025, is currently supporting operations in the Middle East against Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury. The extended deployment may break previous records set during the Vietnam-era, with the Navy seeking to reassure that the ship’s systems are operating within expected parameters. The deployment was first reported by Breaking Defense.