U.S. Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Might Be Out of Action for 14 Months

Could the USS Gerald R. Ford Be Sidelined for A Year Or More?

The U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), is finally heading home after a 300-plus day deployment that shattered the record books.

A fire, which broke out in the ship’s main laundry area, injured sailors, damaged living spaces, and required hours of firefighting and recovery efforts, will need to be fully repaired.

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), conducts flight operations in the North Sea, Aug. 23, 2025. Gerald R. Ford, a first-in-class aircraft carrier and deployed flagship of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the warfighting effectiveness, lethality, and readiness of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and defend U.S., Allied and partner interests in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky)

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the Mediterranean Sea, August 1, 2025. Gerald R. Ford, a first-in-class nuclear aircraft carrier and deployed flagship of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the warfighting effectiveness, lethality, and readiness of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brianna Barnett)

After nearly a year at sea – one of the longest and most demanding deployments in recent Navy history – there is growing concern that the Ford could now enter an extended maintenance period.

Between fire damage and deferred maintenance, on top of the long deployment, there is a real risk that the carrier could be out of action for an extended period of time – potentially as long as 12 to 14 months.

At a time when U.S. carrier availability is already under pressure, the potential loss of the Navy’s most advanced platform could prove to be a significant problem.

USS Gerald R. Ford and Its Role

USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of the Navy’s Ford-class aircraft carriers, a next-generation design intended to replace the Nimitz-class and define the future of U.S. naval aviation.

Commissioned in 2017, the roughly 100,000-ton nuclear-powered carrier is designed to carry more than 75 aircraft and over 5,000 personnel.

The ship incorporates major technological changes, including the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), both designed to increase sortie generation rates and reduce manpower requirements compared to legacy systems.

These innovations are central to the Navy’s long-term carrier strategy but have also introduced complexity and reliability challenges since the ship entered service.

Any extended downtime for the Ford is far from ideal, carrying implications beyond a single hull. This is, after all, the first vessel of its platform, and any extended downtime might affect confidence in the class as a whole.

The Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) transit the Atlantic Ocean March 20, 2021, marking the first time a Ford-class and Italian carrier have operated together underway. As part of the Italian Navy’s Ready for Operations (RFO) campaign for its flagship, Cavour is conducting sea trials in coordination with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office’s Patuxent River Integrated Test Force to obtain official certification to safely operate the F-35B. Gerald R. Ford is conducting integrated carrier strike group operations during independent steaming event 17 as part of her post-delivery test and trials phase of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Riley McDowell)

A Demanding Deployment in the Iran Conflict

The Ford has had a demanding deployment so far.

The carrier has been active for roughly 11 months, operating first in the Caribbean before being redirected to the Middle East, where it has supported sustained U.S. operations against Iran. 

Since February 28, U.S. forces have conducted more than 7,000 strikes as part of the campaign, with the Ford playing a central role in launching air operations and maintaining a continuous presence in the region.

There has been no regular deployment, either.

The ship has been required to sustain high sortie generation and integrate with other U.S. air assets, and there has been continuous operational pressure placed on the platform in a clearly high-threat environment.

The deployment has also been extended multiple times, pushing the ship toward one of the longest deployments in modern Navy history. 

That has all taken a measurable toll on the vessel, with persistent issues with onboard systems, such as plumbing, along with broader concerns about crew fatigue and equipment wear after months without full maintenance.

Put simply, the Ford has been operating at a level that accelerates degradation across its mechanical systems and human performance.

The Fire and Why the Aircraft Carrier Is Set to Receive Repairs

The immediate trigger for the ship’s withdrawal from action to get emergency repairs – then head back out for duty before now coming home – was the March 12 fire, which originated in the ship’s laundry facilities and spread through adjacent areas.

The incident affected roughly 100 berths and resulted in nearly 200 sailors being treated for smoke exposure, with at least one requiring evacuation.

Although the Navy confirmed that propulsion systems were unaffected and the carrier remained operational, the scale of the incident forced a reassessment of the ship’s condition.

The fire isn’t the only reason larger repairs at home are required – it’s really just the straw that broke the camel’s back.

It came after months of high operational tempo and known system issues, with no chance for maintenance.

Could It Be 14 Months of Repairs?

Under normal conditions, post-deployment maintenance for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier can take several months, even without major damage.

Historical examples show that complex overhauls or major repair periods can extend well beyond a year, depending on scope and system upgrades.

In the case of Ford, several factors point to it being a longer timeline.

First, the ship is a first-in-class platform with known challenges across multiple systems, so maintenance will be more complex from the outset.

Second, the extended deployment has created a backlog of deferred work that must now be addressed in a single maintenance period.

Third, the fire itself caused structural and habitability damage that will require repair alongside the routine engineering work. Nothing about this is routine.

When these factors are combined, the possibility of a 12-14 month downtime seems perfectly plausible, even if it hasn ot been officially confirmed. Prolonged deployments come with a cost, and this could be it.

About the Author: Jack Buckby 

Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specialising in defence and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defence audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalisation.