Several American media outlets reported on Wednesday (June 18) that the latest USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is scheduled to head to Europe next week and be deployed to the operating area of the Sixth Fleet. In the event of escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, the United States will have a third carrier strike group in the vicinity.
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier will regularly deploy from the East Coast to Europe, with President Trump weighing military intervention in the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. The deployment of the Ford carrier to Europe during this sensitive period also provides the United States with a third aircraft carrier option.
According to a U.S. defense official speaking to The Stars and Stripes on Wednesday, the deployment has been arranged for several months. The operating area of the Sixth Fleet includes the waters around Europe and Africa.
Previously, the Ford aircraft carrier had been deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to showcase U.S. military strength and provide contingency plans for Israel following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The U.S. Navy has already deployed the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea and is sending the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier from the Indo-Pacific region to the U.S. Central Command.
Ship spotters observing carrier movements in the region reported that in the early hours of Monday, the Nimitz was crossing the Singapore Strait, which connects the South China Sea to the responsibility area of the U.S. Central Command. It remains unclear if the U.S. will bring the three carrier strike groups closer to the Israel-Iran conflict zone.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Hagestes told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that the Pentagon is providing potential military options to President Trump, who is considering joining Israeli bombing raids against Iranian nuclear facilities.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Defense has dispatched dozens of refueling aircraft to Europe to address the conflict and sent at least two Navy destroyers to the Middle East.
The Ford-class carrier strike group possesses global deployment and strike capabilities, serving as a primary force for U.S. Navy maritime power projection and operations. The Ford carrier is the core of this strike group, carrying a large complement of aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornets, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning aircraft, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, among others. These aircraft provide various functions such as air superiority, ground attack, and electronic warfare, offering robust air support to the fleet’s ships.
The Ford carrier is set to depart from its homeport at Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia. Defense officials could not confirm whether the Ford would head to the Middle East, but Navy leaders stated in March that the carrier is prepared if sent to the conflict-prone area. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers accompanying the strike group will deploy “Coyote and Roadrunner” systems, two interception drone systems designed to thwart enemy drones from reaching their intended targets.
Navy officials indicated that these new weapons are intended to counter Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles, at only a fraction of the price of standard Navy missiles.
On the other hand, two U.S. officials informed Reuters on Wednesday that some aircraft and vessels have been relocated from bases in the Middle East that could be vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
These officials, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that this move is part of safeguarding U.S. military plans. They declined to disclose the number of aircraft and vessels relocated or their destinations.
One of the officials mentioned that U.S. Navy ships have been moved from the port in Bahrain, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is stationed, while aircraft not deployed in hardened shelters have been relocated from the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
“This is not an unusual practice. Protecting the forces is a top priority,” the official stated.