New Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R Ford Set For First Full Deployment

The Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 77) has successfully completed its Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPUTEX) off the East Coast and is to be deployed on its first full-length deployment (at least six months) in the first week of May.Accompanied by Carrier Strike Group 12 and embarking Carrier Air Wing 8,it will depart its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk,Virginia.The Ford had been deployed to Europe in September 2022 on its first mission,integrating with other NATO warships for a bit less than two months.Rear Admiral Gregory Huffman commands CSG 12 and Captain Paul Lanzilotta is commanding the Ford.* CSG 12 includes the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normany (CG 60) and Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2).DESRON 2 consists of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61);USS McFaul (DDG 74);and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).An undisclosed nuclear-powered attack submarine customarily accompanies a CSG.The next member of the Ford-class is currently in testing,the Pre-Commissioning Unit John F Kennedy (CVN 79).She was christened by the ship's sponsor,the late president's daughter Caroline,and delivery is expected in 2025.The Ford-class features 23 new technologies,some of them with a view to increasing sortie rates by 30%.These innovations include a dual-band radar custom-designed for the class,providing unprecedented ability to find and track targets and to compress combat data into a single stream;a faster aircraft elevator;the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS);and the Advanced Arresting Gear.The deployment will mark the first time the full Carrier Air Wing 8 will deploy with the Ford.In 2022,only 80% of the CAW deployed to Europe with the Ford.So one of the missions this time will be comprehensively testing the limits of the sortie-generation capability of the Ford-class.* In a previous iteration,CSG 12 had supported both the Afghan War and the Iraq War,flying more than 13,000 combat missions.Having completed the COMPUTEX,the Ford is now certified for integration with CSG 12 and conducting combat operations.Said Rear Admiral Huffman:COMPUTEX serves as a doctorate-level test of the strike group's ability to operate collectively across the spectrum of warfare,while incorporating the Gerald R Ford into the strike group.* The carrier will be ready to provide maritime security,power projection or strike operations.Captain Brian Metcalf,program manager for the Ford-class,said that he fully believes the aircraft carrier,her air wing,and her battle group are capable of defending themselves.* No one has revealed the Ford's destination,but,as a member of US 2nd Fleet,the Atlantic Fleet,it would be logical to deploy her back to Europe,as there is currently no US Navy CSG in theatre to anchor NATO's response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine,bolstering deterrence alongside NATO Allies and Partners.