The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has returned home after a year-long deployment that included high-stakes military missions tied to the conflict in Iran and operations to apprehend Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

The massive warship arrived at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Saturday (May 16), as reported by CNN.

According to the American news outlet, the USS Gerald R. Ford spent a full year at sea after departing Norfolk last June.

During this extended deployment, the supercarrier participated directly in major international military operations, including the mission to detain former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and engagement in the Iran conflict.

This 12-month deployment has set a new record for the longest continuous sea mission by any US aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.

The warship served as a central pillar in executing US President Donald Trump’s foreign military objectives.

An emotional scene unfolded at the Norfolk naval base as family members gathered to welcome home the sailors. Cheers erupted from the crowd as the vessel docked, with sailors on deck waving back in response.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was present at the pier alongside the families to welcome the crew. He praised their performance, stating that what the Ford Carrier Strike Group and its accompanying destroyers accomplished on the international stage was nothing short of extraordinary and unprecedented.

Initially stationed in the Mediterranean Sea at the start of its mission, the USS Gerald R. Ford was later redirected to the Caribbean to support operations regarding Venezuela.

As conflict intensified in the Middle East around Iran, the carrier returned to the Mediterranean, transited the Suez Canal, and entered the Red Sea in early March.

Throughout the rigorous deployment, the carrier encountered several mechanical and shipboard challenges, including a fire in a laundry room and recurring plumbing issues, which required a temporary return to the Mediterranean for emergency repairs.

Late last month, the arrival of the USS George H.W. Bush in the Mediterranean marked the first time since 2003 that the United States had deployed three aircraft carriers simultaneously to the Middle East region, with the USS Abraham Lincoln having been stationed there since January.

The return of the Ford is expected to bring adjustments to the rotation of the US naval fleet in the Middle East.
Source: CNN