296 days of deployment. It’s the new record set by the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the most significant since the Vietnam War. Between 1972 and 1973, the now retired USS Midway had spent 332 days at sea.
The previous modern record belonged to the USS Abraham Lincoln, deployed for 295 days in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. An exceptional situation that had forced the navy to extend its missions. It should be noted that the USS Nimitz officially spent 341 days at sea in the same year, but a large part of this deployment took place at the dock, in quarantine, to limit the spread of the virus. By deducting these periods on land, its actual deployment time falls to 263 days.
A deployment beyond norms, between conflicts and breakdowns
Departing from Norfolk, Virginia, in June 2025, the USS Gerald R. Ford first sailed to the Mediterranean before being redirected to the Caribbean Sea in October, as part of the largest US naval deployment in the region in decades. It participated in the military operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
Next, it headed to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalated. The aircraft carrier then took part in the fighting on Israel’s coasts from the Mediterranean, then through the Suez Canal and engaged in the Red Sea in early March.
But this long deployment was marred by significant difficulties. On March 12, a fire broke out, for example, in the ship’s main laundry room, injuring three sailors and forcing 200 others to receive treatment for smoke inhalation. Nearly 100 berths were also damaged, leaving 600 sailors without a dormitory.
The Ford had to make a stop in Croatia for repairs. Furthermore, recurring plumbing problems occurred on the ship’s approximately 650 toilets, with no less than 32 requests for technical assistance made in 2025.
4,500 exhausted sailors
Measuring 337 meters long, almost 80 meters wide, displacing over 100,000 tons, the USS Gerald R. Ford is a floating city powered by two A1B nuclear reactors capable of generating 600 megawatts. It carries over 75 aircraft and can generate up to 220 air sorties per day. A behemoth worth $13 billion.
To operate this gigantic machine, 4,500 men and women have been living at sea for almost ten months. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine has raised concerns about the “serious toll” this deployment is taking on their mental health. Admiral Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, has indicated his desire to convince the command to use smaller, more modern ships more often, rather than constantly relying on aircraft carriers.
The return of the USS Gerald R. Ford to Norfolk is now expected by late May – if it is not extended once again.
Our analysis
The record deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford is revealing. Under Donald Trump, American foreign policy took a particularly interventionist turn, contrary to the promises of the American president during his campaign. The aircraft carrier, mobilized continuously since June 2025, is the most concrete symbol of this.
And the fact that the previous record, apart from a pandemic period, dates back to the Vietnam War speaks volumes. This conflict, one of the most traumatic in American history, has left deep scars on public opinion, as well as within the military.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford has just set the record for the longest deployment since the Vietnam War, with 296 days at sea.
- The aircraft carrier participated in two major American operations.
- The personnel on board is under pressure and facing very heavy technical challenges.
