The USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s $13 billion lead supercarrier, returned to Naval Station Norfolk on May 16 after an 11-month deployment — the longest for any U.S. carrier since the Vietnam War. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth welcomed the 5,000-sailor crew home. The deployment exposed unresolved problems with the ship: a laundry room fire that displaced sailors from their quarters, sewage failures that kept toilets unusable, electromagnetic catapults that broke down after 181 launches instead of the promised 4,100, and the persistent inability to launch and recover the F-35C Lightning II. Repairs are estimated at one to two years.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier Is Now Home
The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), sails in the Atlantic Ocean, July 4, 2025. Gerald R. Ford, a first-in-class aircraft carrier and deployed flagship of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, incorporates modern technology, innovative shipbuilding designs, and best practices from legacy aircraft
carriers to increase the U.S. Navy’s capacity to underpin American security and economic prosperity, deter adversaries, and project power on a global scale through sustained operations at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tajh Payne)
It’s about time. The USS Gerald R. Ford supercarrier is back in the United States after an ultra-long deployment that had many question whether the ship could fulfill its duties with a number of technical problems and an accidental fire onboard. It is time to thank these sailors for their selfless service on the carrier, which sailed in the U.S. Southern Command and Central Command area of responsibility for almost one year.
The Ford’s 11-month deployment was the lengthiest for a carrier since the Vietnam War. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was there to welcome the 5,000 shipmates back to Naval Station Norfolk on May 16.
It Was a Celebration for Many
The sailors are happy to be back with their friends and loved ones after the deployment. It was a smart move for Hegseth to be there for the return of the Ford.
It shows that the Department of Defense wanted to honor the long deployment and the sailors’ sacrifices in making the Ford one of the best carriers in the world.
Some major setbacks included a laundry room fire that forced many sailors to sleep outside their quarters and problems with the sewage system that prevented them from flushing the toilets regularly.
Troubled History
The Gerald R. Ford cost more than $13 billion. It was early on plagued by delays and cost overruns due to problems with its electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG).
The Ford cannot deploy F-35Cs
Another major problem with the Ford is that it cannot launch and recover F-35C Lightning II fighter jets. This is one of the biggest surprises that Ford had in store for critics. What is the point of a $13.3 billion new aircraft carrier if it cannot even deploy an F-35C squadron?
PHILIPPINE SEA (Dec. 11, 2023) An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “War Hawks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97, recovers aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Benjamin Ringers)
The Repairs Will Be Lengthy
Now the Ford is back, but how long will it be out of service? My estimate is between one and two years. The early months will be for normal wear-and-tear maintenance that all carriers have after a deployment. Then the fire damage must be fixed, including the toilets – what the Navy calls “heads.”
Catapults Are Not Trustworthy or Reliable
The EMALS system was intended to be a modern marvel, but it will take engineers and technicians longer to inspect and maintain it properly. EMALS was supposed to operate reliably for more than 4,100 launches, but it has only sent 181 sorties before it has been on the fritz.
Weapons Elevators Are Problematic
There are also issues with the new weapons elevators that have not functioned as well as hoped. Eleven are onboard, and the Navy hoped they would be efficient for launching munitions top-side to quickly load a strike aircraft.
Why did the Navy send the Ford on such a long journey without making sure that all systems were “go” before the deployment? Is the maritime branch stretched too thin with its carrier force?
(July 28, 2017) An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 approaches the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) for an arrested landing. The aircraft carrier is underway conducting test and evaluation operations.(U.S. Navy photo by Erik Hildebrandt/Released) 170728-N-UZ648-161
Strain on Shipyards
One problem of keeping carriers in the water has been manpower shortages in the shipyards. More workers will be needed to fix the Ford. The Navy should conduct an extensive after-action review to ensure the supercarrier can deploy to sea against an enemy within one to two years.
Chief of Naval Operations Has Monitored the Ford Closely
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle, to his credit, called out the dangers of the extended deployment before the Ford steamed from the Caribbean to the Middle East. He was concerned about sailor morale and the effects of not seeing shipmates’ families or friends for that long.
Caudle also pointed out that personnel on the Ford would not be present for life events such as weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries.
Now he is ecstatic that the carrier has returned to the United States.
“We’re going to give our heroes a welcome back … and it’s just an extraordinary ship, extraordinary crew, an extraordinary strike group,” Caudle stated to the House Armed Services Committee, as noted by Navy Times. “And the sailors, I could not be more proud of.”
Now morale will not be a problem since the sailors are back home. Quality of life is a major aspect of why Naval personnel will volunteer for service. They know they will be at sea for months, but they also want the best for their families, and that means a predictable schedule.
Aircraft carriers are usually at sea for seven to eight months, but the United States needed more carrier support for Operation Epic Fury in Iran, so the Ford’s mission was extended.
How Much Money Is Needed?
Now it is not clear how much money will be needed to fix the fire damage, the toilets, and other issues. Plus, it is unknown how Ford can participate in the “Optimized Fleet Response Plan.”
“Under the Navy’s Optimized Fleet Response Plan, each of the 11 carriers is plotted into a staggered 36-month schedule divided into deployment, sustainment, and training and maintenance,” according to Stars and Stripes.
We will be keeping a close eye on Ford’s progress as it attempts to fix all the maladies. The carrier still has significant potential to dominate the waves next time it is deployed, but it’s of little use in port given the many threats to the U.S. military.
I also predict that the Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office may write reports on the Gerald R. Ford, which could sting the Navy and raise uncomfortable questions about its future use.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood, PhD
Author of now over 3,500 articles on defense issues, Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: A Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
