The “giant” heads home: After war missions and Maduro capture, a record return

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ABONE OL

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The USS Gerald R Ford is returning to the United States after more than 300 days at sea — the longest deployment of any American aircraft carrier since the Cold War — following operations in the Iran war and the mission in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

It is unclear when exactly the Ford is expected to leave the Middle East, but it will return to its home port in Virginia in mid-May, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Ford, widely considered the world’s most powerful and advanced aircraft carrier, departed from Naval Station Norfolk in late June 2025 and first headed to the Mediterranean Sea. The ship was then rerouted to the Caribbean in October.

The aircraft carrier was forced to turn back to the Mediterranean last month for repairs and maintenance after a fire broke out in its laundry room on 12 March, docking in a port in Greece.

The Ford was subsequently transferred to Croatia, where it underwent further repairs.

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is docked at Souda Naval Base near Chania on the island of Crete, Monday, March 23, 2026.

With a displacement of 100,000 tonnes and a length of 334 metres, it features a flight deck capable of accommodating more than 75 jets, although it usually operates with an air wing of 60-70 aircraft.

The Ford’s 295th day at sea broke the previous post-Cold War record of 294 days, set by the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data compiled by the US Naval Institute.

The overall record for longest deployment is held by the USS Midway, which was at sea for 332 days during the Vietnam War.

Three US aircraft carriers are currently deployed to the Middle East — a number not seen since 2003.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been in the region since January. The USS George HW Bush arrived last week and is heading to the Arabian Sea to support the US blockade of Iranian ports.