The USS Gerald R. Ford returned home on Jan. 17. With the Osprey out of commission, officials say carriers have other options for ferrying people and supplies on and off the ships. Early Ford-class maintenance costs are lower than expected, meaning the aircraft carriers could save more than predicted compared to the Nimitz class. The USS Ommaney Bay came under attack on January 4, 1945, when it was struck by a Japanese kamikaze pilot. The carrier and its armada left the East Coast in May. The Eisenhower’s presence in the region marks the first time a carrier has operated in Central Command’s area of responsibility since 2021. Ike will be the first U.S. aircraft carrier to operate in the Middle Eastern waters of U.S. Central Command since the end of the Afghanistan war in 2021. Watch the robotic goat walk, beg, hop and sway its hips. Construction delays on carrier Enterprise are one factor in ongoing discussions about when to sign a contract for the next two carriers, 82 and 83. Dwight D. Eisenhower's arrival in CENTCOM waters will mark the first time a carrier has operated in those Middle Eastern waters since 2021. Load More