"USS Gerald R. Ford Completes Maiden Deployment, Returns Home"

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, completed its first full deployment, spending 8.5 months largely in the Mediterranean Sea and supporting Israel after the October Hamas attacks. The deployment was extended by 76 days as a response to the conflict, with the carrier and its strike group serving as a deterrence message. The ship conducted multinational drills, vigilance exercises, and flight operations, while also standing as a warning to certain malign actors in the region.