Latest news with #GeraldR.Ford
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
US Nuclear Command Plane Seen Flying Over Atlantic
A specialized United States Navy aircraft designed to serve as an airborne command post during a nuclear conflict was spotted flying over the North Atlantic Ocean. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Navy for comment via email. The E-6B aircraft, also known as Mercury, is designed to serve as a communications relay for the nation's nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines and to facilitate the launch of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to the Naval Air Systems Command. In April, an E-6B aircraft simulated the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, testing its Airborne Launch Control System-which can launch nuclear-capable missiles if ground-based command centers are compromised. The Atlantic Ocean is a major operating area for the U.S. military. Last month, a pair of U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carriers-USS Gerald R. Ford and USS George H.W. Bush-sailed in formation while conducting resupply operations and ammunition transfers at sea. Citing flight tracking data, TheIntelFrog-an open-source intelligence analyst on X, formerly Twitter-reported spotting an E-6B aircraft conducting flight operations over waters near Portugal's Azores islands on Sunday. The Azores are in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 870 miles west of mainland Portugal. IslandAviation Terceira Azores, a YouTube channel that records takeoffs and landings at Lajes Airport-which is on Terceira Island in the Azores and shares a runway with an air base-uploaded a video on Sunday showing the landing of an E-6B aircraft. The U.S. Air Force describes Lajes Field as the "Crossroads of the Atlantic," serving as a vital mid-Atlantic link for forces traveling to and from Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Details of the E-6B aircraft's temporarily deployment from its main operating base at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma remain unclear. In June 2024, trackers showed the Mercury fleet conducting deployments in Norway and the United Kingdom. The aircraft-derived from the Boeing 707 passenger jet-provides the National Command Authority, including the president and the secretary of defense, with what the Navy describes as "survivable, reliable, and endurable" nuclear command, control and communications. Hans Kristensen, the director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, wrote on X in June 2024: "The [E-6B] aircraft is designed to provide secure communication link between the U.S. National Command Authority and nuclear ballistic missile submarines. E-6Bs occasionally visit Europe but not often." The War Zone, a specialist outlet, wrote on June 5: "Today, the Mercury fleet supports two critical nuclear deterrence mission sets: a Navy one called 'Take Charge And Move Out' (TACAMO) and an Air Force one referred to simply as the Airborne Command Post (ABNCP), but better known by the nickname Looking Glass." TACAMO involves the relaying of orders to the Navy's ballistic missile submarines, while the Looking Glass mission relays orders to the Air Force's nuclear-capable bombers and silo-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. The aging E-6B fleet-which includes 16 aircraft in service-is scheduled to be replaced by the newer E-130J aircraft, maintaining a survivable communication link between the National Command Authority and the U.S.'s air-, land- and sea-based nuclear forces. Related Articles McDonald's Announces Breakfast Menu ChangeUS Flexes Air Power With Ally in Contested South China SeaIran Contradicts Donald Trump on TalksIran's Army Gives Missile Update: Thousands Ready to Launch 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
New US Aircraft Carrier Hit by Significant Delays
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The USS John F. Kennedy, the second ship in the new Ford class of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, could be delayed by up to two years, according to a new report. Why It Matters Many U.S. Navy shipbuilding projects have been plagued by setbacks and ballooning costs, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the first Ford-class aircraft carrier. The Gerald R. Ford was commissioned, or formally marked as in active service, by President Donald Trump during his first term in office. What To Know The USS John F. Kennedy, also known as the CVN-79, was expected to be handed over to the U.S. military in July this year, but will instead be ready in March 2027, according to U.S. Navy budget documents for the coming year. The delay was first reported by the USNI News outlet attached to the Naval Institute non-profit on Monday. The USS Gerald R. Ford heads to the Norfolk, Virginia naval station on April 14, 2017 after almost a week of trials during which the ship's systems were tested. The USS Gerald R. Ford heads to the Norfolk, Virginia naval station on April 14, 2017 after almost a week of trials during which the ship's systems were tested. Bill Tiernan/The Virginian-Pilot via AP The USS John F. Kennedy is the second of the new Ford-class aircraft carriers, replacing the decades-old Nimitz-class. The third aircraft carrier in the class, the USS Enterprise, will be delivered in July 2030, rather than September 2029, according to the U.S. Navy budget documents. The delay was chalked up to issues getting hold of materials for the vessel, and hold-ups with industry and supply chains. The delay in delivery of the USS John F. Kennedy is "not surprising," bearing in mind the changes it needed after its initial building phase and "challenges throughout the U.S. shipbuilding industry," said Robert Murrett, a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral who is now a professor of practice of public administration and international affairs at Syracuse University. The USS John F. Kennedy needs to take on board the lessons from the first of the new class of aircraft carriers, Murrett told Newsweek. It also needs to build in new technology, like updated radars, and equipment for F-35C fighter jets, Murrett said. Although the U.S. Navy's fleet of operational carriers will hit just 10 for a year, he added, "this can be mitigated with careful management of existing CVNs' maintenance and overhaul schedules, as well as equally careful management of longer deployments for our carrier sailors, which is already an issue." CVN is shorthand for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. A Navy spokesperson told USNI News that the military was "exploring opportunities for preliminary acceptance of the vessel prior to formal delivery and is coordinating closely with stakeholders to ensure the fastest possible transition to fleet operations and a combat-capable carrier." Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Navy for comment via email. The Navy budget documents put the delay to the USS John F. Kennedy down to the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) for the ship and Advanced Weapons Elevator work. AAG is a new system for the second and third Ford-class aircraft carriers, according to the military. It is designed to make sure aircraft landing on the carriers slow down quickly and safely. Advanced Weapons Elevators help move weapons and ammunition around a ship. What People Are Saying The U.S. military has hailed the USS John F. Kennedy as "the most agile and lethal combat platform globally," kitted out with "improved systems" that link the carrier up more closely with other forces.
Newsweek
04-07-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Photos Show US Navy's Double Aircraft Carrier Operations in Atlantic
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States recently deployed two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, USS Gerald R. Ford and USS George H.W. Bush, in the Atlantic following a similar operation by China in the Pacific as both countries compete for naval dominance across the world. Why It Matters While the U.S. Navy possesses the largest fleet of aircraft carriers in the world—with 11 vessels in service—China operates more than 370 ships and submarines, including two aircraft carriers in active service, making it the world's largest navy by hull count, according to the Pentagon. Last month, the Chinese navy simultaneously deployed its aircraft carriers—CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong—in the broader western Pacific. This came as one of the two American aircraft carriers operating in the region, USS Nimitz, was redeployed to the Middle East. What To Know According to a set of photos released by the U.S. Navy on Wednesday, the Gerald R. Ford and the George H.W. Bush were seen operating side by side on June 27 at an undisclosed location in the Atlantic, where they conducted resupply operations and ammunition transfers. The United States aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford, left, and USS George H.W. Bush, right, conducting resupply operations while underway in the Atlantic Ocean on June 27. The United States aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford, left, and USS George H.W. Bush, right, conducting resupply operations while underway in the Atlantic Ocean on June 27. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky/U.S. Navy The Gerald R. Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on June 24 for a "regularly scheduled deployment" to the U.S. European Command, forming a strike group with five destroyers to support economic prosperity, national security and defense, the Navy said. Photos taken by ship spotters show that the George H.W. Bush departed Naval Station Norfolk on June 10 and returned on Tuesday. While underway in the Atlantic, the aircraft carrier conducted "Tailored Ship's Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem," the Navy said. The training—referred to as TSTA/FEP—is designed to build crew operating proficiency and to enhance the ship's ability to self-train, according to the Navy. It prepares the ship and crew for integration into a strike group through a wide range of mission-critical operations. The Gerald R. Ford, commissioned in 2017 and becoming operational four years later, is the lead ship of the next generation of the U.S.'s aircraft carriers. The George H.W. Bush is one of 10 vessels in the older Nimitz-class, which entered service between 1975 and 2009. As the successor to the Nimitz class, the Gerald R. Ford-class features design improvements, including the ability to launch more aircraft and generate more electrical power for shipboard systems. The Navy plans to procure six new aircraft carriers, including the lead ship itself. The United States aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford, front, and USS George H.W. Bush conducting ammunition transfers while underway in the Atlantic Ocean on June 27. The United States aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford, front, and USS George H.W. Bush conducting ammunition transfers while underway in the Atlantic Ocean on June 27. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky/U.S. Navy Meanwhile, China is testing its most advanced aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian, which features electromagnetic catapults for launching aircraft, similar to those on the Gerald R. Ford. The Pentagon previously assessed that the Fujian would be operational in the first half of 2025. What People Are Saying The U.S. Second Fleet announced on June 24: "The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group provides combatant commanders and America's civilian leaders increased capacity to underpin American security and economic prosperity, deter adversaries, and project power on a global scale through sustained operations at sea." The U.S. Navy said in a fact sheet last updated on February 27: "Often the presence of an aircraft carrier has deterred potential adversaries from striking against U.S. interests. Aircraft carriers support and operate aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets that threaten free use of the sea and engage in sustained power projection operations in support of U.S. and coalition forces." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will deploy a second aircraft carrier to the western Pacific to reinforce its naval presence as China's navy continues to expand its operations.
Jordan News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
A Third U.S. Aircraft Carrier Approaches the Middle East - Jordan News
A Third U.S. Aircraft Carrier Approaches the Middle East A U.S. Navy official announced on Friday that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will set course for Europe next week, making it the third U.S. aircraft carrier to be positioned near the Middle East amid rising tensions. اضافة اعلان The U.S. military has conducted multiple exercises over the past week following the outbreak of war between Washington's ally Israel and Iran. On Thursday, President Donald Trump gave himself a two-week deadline to decide on possible direct military action against Tehran. According to the Navy official, the Gerald R. Ford is scheduled to depart its home port in Norfolk, on the U.S. East Coast, on the morning of June 24, as part of a pre-planned deployment toward Europe. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the first in a new generation of supercarriers. It weighs 100,000 tons, runs on nuclear power, and officially entered service in 2017. Currently, the USS Carl Vinson has been stationed in the Middle East for several months, having taken part in U.S. airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Meanwhile, the USS Nimitz, previously anchored in the South China Sea, is also en route to the Middle East. Over the past week, large military aircraft have departed from the U.S. toward American bases in Europe, while dozens of warplanes have been withdrawn from Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar as a precaution against potential Iranian strikes. Before the outbreak of the current conflict, Washington had been engaged in indirect negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program. However, Iran has refused to resume talks as long as Israeli attacks against it continue. — (Agencies)
Roya News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
US deploys world's largest aircraft carrier near Middle East
A US Navy official announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier will set sail next week for European waters, becoming the third American carrier positioned near the Middle East as tensions soar following the outbreak of hostilities between Iran and Washington's close ally, 'Israel'. The deployment comes as the US military intensifies exercises in the region, coinciding with the first week of open conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv. On Thursday, President Donald Trump said he would take two weeks to decide whether to launch a direct military intervention against Iran. According to the Navy official, the Gerald R. Ford will depart from its home port in Norfolk, Virginia, on the morning of June 24 as part of a scheduled deployment heading toward Europe. Commissioned in 2017, the Ford is the lead vessel of the US Navy's newest class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Weighing 100,000 tons, the ship represents the most advanced carrier in the US fleet. Currently, the USS Carl Vinson has been stationed in the Middle East for several months and has taken part in US airstrikes targeting Houthis in Yemen. Meanwhile, the USS Nimitz, which had been docked in the South China Sea, has also begun moving west toward the region. In recent days, large US military aircraft have flown to American bases across Europe, while dozens of aircraft have been relocated from the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, reportedly as a precautionary measure against possible Iranian strikes. Before the war erupted, Washington and Tehran were engaged in indirect talks over Iran's nuclear program.
