Summary and Key Points: The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) completed its first worldwide deployment to the Mediterranean, launching over 8,000 sorties during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

-Despite initial production challenges, the Ford-class aircraft carriers' advanced capabilities make them essential assets for the U.S. Navy.

-However, the high costs and vulnerability to cyber-attacks, hypersonic missiles, and UAVs have led some analysts to question the future viability of super-carriers.

-The Ford-class, succeeding the Nimitz-class, features innovations like the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), enhancing sortie rates and electrical power generation. Despite potential threats, these carriers remain crucial for U.S. national security.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) completed its first worldwide deployment to the Mediterranean. The lead ship in the Navy’s latest class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers performed well in its extended deployment, launching over........

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