The Israel-Hamas conflict has been ongoing since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023, causing significant destruction and loss of life. To help end this conflict, the United States has deployed its most powerful aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Mediterranean Sea. This move aims to restore peace between the regions.
The USS Gerald R. Ford is the world’s largest aircraft carrier and is equipped with advanced weapon systems, the best ship defense system, and 90 maneuverable air fighters ready for immediate action. Accompanying the USS Gerald R. Ford are formidable cruisers and four destroyers, equipped with nuclear missiles, as well as a reinforced United States Air Group. This deployment aims to deter Iran from expanding the conflict into a regional war, as Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria have conducted regular attacks on U.S. military installations in those regions.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, launched in 2009, represents a new generation of aircraft carriers designed to strengthen the U.S. Navy. Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, it is a nuclear-powered ship with two reactors, enabling it to serve for over 50 years. The ship has a deck that is 1,100 feet long, 260 feet wide, and 245 feet high, weighing 100,000 tons. It is powered by two large electric motors producing 1,100 megawatts of power, equivalent to 1.5 million horsepower.
Equipped with advanced armaments like the Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS air defense system and the LPWS (Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System), the USS Gerald R. Ford is designed to shoot down incoming rockets and mortars with a firing rate of 4,500 rounds per minute. This powerful deployment is intended to deter further aggression and help restore peace in the conflict-ridden region.
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, equipped with advanced defense systems and formidable weaponry, has been deployed to the Mediterranean Sea by the United States in an effort to restore peace between Israel and Hamas. This move follows the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023.
One of the key defensive features of the USS Gerald R. Ford is the Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), which creates a continuous arc of projectiles, appearing like a laser. Complementing this is the Lockheed Martin Helios shipboard laser system, powered by the carrier’s nuclear reactor. This laser can continuously attack enemy aircraft and missiles up to three miles away, capable of damaging electronics or destroying projectiles.
The RIM-116 missile system on the Gerald R. Ford carries 20 missiles, capable of engaging targets 16 miles away at speeds exceeding 2,200 mph. The aircraft carrier is accompanied by a formidable air strike group, consisting of 90 fighters and helicopters. This group includes F-35, F-15, F-16 fighters, and A-10 attack aircraft. Each of these aircraft poses a significant threat to the enemy. The F-35 is known for its advanced technology, including laser and missile weapons, and its vertical landing capability. The F-16, a versatile fourth-generation fighter, combines speed and maneuverability with the ability to attack targets up to 70 km away. The A-10 Thunderbolt II, equipped with a powerful GAU-8 Avenger cannon, can destroy ground targets and operate in environments unsuitable for other aircraft.
The USS Gerald R. Ford also features unique equipment such as a cable landing system for helicopters, allowing for safe vertical landings in challenging conditions. Its large, spacious deck facilitates easier takeoffs and landings, while improved deck space organization enhances safety and efficiency. The carrier has three elevators, each capable of lifting up to 65 tons, designed to improve flight deck usage. Below the main deck is a vast area resembling a parking lot for aircraft, including space for stealth bombers like the B-21 Raider, which can launch surprise attacks on enemy bases.
Accompanying the Gerald R. Ford are reliable escorts, including Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. These ships are equipped with SM-2 and SM-6 systems and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, capable of targeting enemy ships up to 250 miles away. The Harpoon missile is highly maneuverable, flying just 16 feet above sea level, making it difficult to detect and counter.
The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group is a significant show of force intended to deter further aggression and help restore peace in the conflict-ridden region.
