USS Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier Will Be Out of Action for TWO YEARS... or MORE!!!
The USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Naval Station Norfolk on May 16, 2026, after a 326-day deployment — the longest American carrier deployment since the USS Coral Sea spent 329 days at sea in 1965. The Ford was scheduled for seven months but stretched to eleven across operations against Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and the opening of the air campaign against Iran.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle has openly opposed deployment extensions, telling the Surface Navy Association the practice disrupts funerals, marriages, and family planning. Post-deployment repairs to the Ford's nuclear reactors, EMALS catapults, Advanced Arresting Gear, plumbing, and fire-damaged crew quarters could take two years or longer.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/out-of-action-for-2-years-or-more-the-uss-gerald-r-ford-aircraft-carrier-will-be-out-of-action-for-a-longtime/ar-AA23EFUt?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=6a14d2e663fc497b950eaf6f7d738c5c&cvpid=6a150460b9fd416fb16865a43efb0a07&ei=15
The Navy is now considering cancelling construction of the 5th and 6th Ford-class carriers.
I've told them over and over, keep USS Nimitz in service by refueling the reactor for another 25 years. Do the same with the next three of that class to build back up to 15 carrier battlegroups as the Fords come into service.
But did those idiots at DoD listen? Nope!
Maybe now they will!
If it isn't broke, don't fix it! The Nimitz-class would have continued to be just fine if they didn't reduce the carrier force to 15 and start wearing them out.
We should have refueled Enterprise as well. But that one's on Obama.
China has to be salivating right now as they glance towards Taiwan.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle has openly opposed deployment extensions, telling the Surface Navy Association the practice disrupts funerals, marriages, and family planning. Post-deployment repairs to the Ford's nuclear reactors, EMALS catapults, Advanced Arresting Gear, plumbing, and fire-damaged crew quarters could take two years or longer.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/out-of-action-for-2-years-or-more-the-uss-gerald-r-ford-aircraft-carrier-will-be-out-of-action-for-a-longtime/ar-AA23EFUt?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=6a14d2e663fc497b950eaf6f7d738c5c&cvpid=6a150460b9fd416fb16865a43efb0a07&ei=15
The Navy is now considering cancelling construction of the 5th and 6th Ford-class carriers.
I've told them over and over, keep USS Nimitz in service by refueling the reactor for another 25 years. Do the same with the next three of that class to build back up to 15 carrier battlegroups as the Fords come into service.
But did those idiots at DoD listen? Nope!
Maybe now they will!
If it isn't broke, don't fix it! The Nimitz-class would have continued to be just fine if they didn't reduce the carrier force to 15 and start wearing them out.
We should have refueled Enterprise as well. But that one's on Obama.
China has to be salivating right now as they glance towards Taiwan.
36-40, F
