The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin on Monday announced that the U.S. Navy is dispatching the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean.
The decision to dispatch the war ship, according to him, comes with “ironclad support” for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people in the wake of a devastating terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel.
“My thoughts continue to be with the people of Israel and the many families who have lost loved ones as a result of the abhorrent terrorist attack by Hamas.
“Today, in response to this Hamas attack on Israel, and following detailed discussions with President Biden, I have directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts,” he said.
The inaugural Ford-class aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford is the largest, newest, and most advanced aircraft carrier in the world. It represents a significant leap forward in the U.S. Navy’s ability to project power globally, boasting a host of new technologies, such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, Advanced Arresting Gear, and Advanced Weapons Elevators.
According to the U.S. Naval Institute, the Ford is combat-ready and was already underway in the Mediterranean after departing Trieste, Italy on September 21st. Her exact location in the Med is unknown.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier will not be sailing alone. Her Strike Group, a formidable assembly of naval power, also includes the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy, and the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt. The deployment is not just a show of force but a clear message to adversaries about the lengths the U.S. is willing to go to protect its allies.
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