The Pentagon said the new aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is preparing for a brief cruise next year. It is getting ready as it will its first-ever deployment in 2023 as part of the Department of Defense's global force management.
Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Out for Commissioning
Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, the commanding officer of the Gerald Ford, said it would embark on its first-ever cruise in the Atlantic Ocean, with a port of call as part of the voyage, reported USNI News.
He also talked about setting sail with allies. Together with them, we will work on this. Interoperability and interchangeability are desired with partners. As a result, NATO allies are starting to operate around-the-clock while at sea.
Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, commanding officer of the US 2nd Fleet, is now in charge of the carrier strike group during the cruise, which the Navy is billing as a "provider deployment."
Together with Destroyer Squadron 2, CSG 12, and Carrier Air Wing 8, they will set sail with Ford, as said by Dwyer. Destroyer Squadron Two (DDG-74) would include the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116), USS Ramage (DDG-61), and USS McFaul.
The carrier strike group (CSG) would also include the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) of the Ticonderoga class, the cargo vessel USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE-5) of the Lewis and Clark class, as well as the oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys of the Henry J. Kaiser class (T-AO-188).
Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will not be carrying a full carrier air wing, but it is permitted to have eight squadrons on deck during the cruise. These squadrons will include a range of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, per the Insider.
According to Lanzilotta, only the Gerald Ford CSG has all the aircraft it needs for deployment. Other CSGs are short on both airplanes and helicopters. The USS George H. W. Bush is an example of it, which has been deployed, states Airlant.
Multi-national Cruise
Several US allies are on board this multinational cruise, along with nine nations, 17 ships, and one submarine. With all the participating ships, the stages will consist of approximately eight phases, like long-range maritime strikes, distributed maritime operations, and anti-submarine warfighting drills.
Lanzilotta predicts having about 4,700 individuals aboard the ship once officers, CSG personnel, destroyer squadron staff, and air wing arrive on board.
Ford's CO characterized the voyage as preparation for the carrier and personnel readying for next year's longer rollout. As shown by Lanzilotta, each of the new technologies fitted on the first-in-class carrier, such as the Advanced Arresting Gear, the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), as well as the Advanced Weapons Elevators, are already operational.
The Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will have its first cruise before its deployment in 2023 as several operations will be done with a nine-nation force.
