USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, returned to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia earlier this week following an extended 8.5-month deployment, largely in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Ford's first full deployment was extended 76 days by the Pentagon in response to the Hamas attacks in Israel, with the ship and the other warships in its strike group serving in part as a deterrence message.
As that conflict expanded, US naval forces also took up positions to respond to Houthi drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping in the waters near Yemen. The Ford, however, remained in the Mediterranean.
During the ship's 2023 deployment, which lasted 239 days, the aircraft carrier carried out multinational drills and vigilance exercises, conducted flight operations, and stood as a warning to certain malign actors, such as Iran and Hezbollah.
The following photos show the lead ship of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group during its eight months and more at sea.