The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is out of the campaign against Iran for 14 months of repairs.
The supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) was forced to withdraw from its Middle East mission for extended maintenance following a fire and serious technical problems.
The US Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) has officially withdrawn from "Operation Epic Fury" targeting Iran for urgent repairs. According to Western media reports, the ship is now docked at the US Naval Base in Souda Bay, Crete (Greece), and is expected to remain out of active service for at least the next 14 months.
Fire incident and damage to technical systems.
The U.S. Central Command (US CENTCOM) reported that a fire broke out on the ship but was not related to direct combat operations. Specifically, on March 12, a fire erupted in the laundry area, believed to have originated from a dryer. The blaze lasted more than 30 hours before being completely extinguished, leaving 600 sailors without sleeping quarters and personal belongings.
Notably, there are reports suggesting the fire may have been started by the sailors themselves in protest against participation in the military campaign against Iran. An official investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway to clarify these suspicions.
The condition deteriorated after 10 months of continuous implementation.
In addition to fire damage, the USS Gerald R. Ford is facing serious technical problems related to its drainage system and the deterioration of other support equipment. This is a consequence of continuous high-intensity operations over the past year.
Before being deployed to the Middle East, the aircraft carrier participated in a military operation in Venezuela in January 2026. To date, the ship has been on continuous deployment for 10 months without undergoing intensive maintenance, leading to system overload.
Consequences for the operational capabilities of the U.S. Navy
The withdrawal of the USS Gerald R. Ford from the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz created a significant gap in Operation Epic Fury. According to the Command's decision, the ship would require over a year to repair the malfunctions. During this time, the ship's air squadron could remain operational but would be limited to the Eastern Mediterranean.
The absence of this latest-generation aircraft carrier forces the US Navy to readjust its force deployment strategy in hotspots, as the ship's technical systems have yet to achieve the necessary stability after numerous malfunctions since its commissioning.
