The newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), has passed Gibraltar and is now in the Mediterranean Sea.
This is confirmed by photos of the ship taken during its passage through the strait on Friday, February 20.
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The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN‑78) started a conditional "timer," counting down toward the start of strikes on Iran, having crossed the Atlantic for this purpose. The minimum time is four days, which the aircraft carrier will need to reach the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.
This is the nearest area where the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN‑78) could have real combat significance. Although the distance to Iran is more than 1,500 km, carrier‑based aircraft can operate at that range with the support of aerial refueling tankers. In addition, missile destroyers from the aircraft carrier strike group can protect Israel from Iranian missile attacks.
It is also likely that the newest American aircraft carrier will join the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), which is currently deployed in the Arabian Sea. The USS Gerald R. Ford will be able to cover this distance in the next 10-14 days.
At the same time, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) itself currently resembles a fire brigade, as it recently participated in an operation against Venezuela to kidnap Maduro. This aircraft carrier has been on patrol since June 24, 2025, for more than eight months. This is the carrier's second crossing of the Atlantic Ocean heading east.
The ship's intensive activity has already raised concerns among the military, and according to the original plan, it was supposed to return to base for repairs after operating off the coast of Venezuela. However, Washington chose a different course due to a clear shortage of forces, which are insufficient to maintain a presence in multiple theaters of operations simultaneously.
In particular, the U.S. Navy currently has 10 aircraft carriers, as the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) has completed its last voyage and is preparing for decommissioning, but some of them are undergoing repairs, maintenance, and restoration. Therefore, the Pentagon can currently maintain only five aircraft carriers and four strike carrier groups on deployment.
It is worth noting that the U.S. has concentrated a large number of AWACS E-3 aircraft in the vicinity of Iran, signaling elevated military readiness.
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