The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, dispatched to the Middle East ahead of the outbreak of war with Iran, returned home to the United States on Saturday after a 326-day deployment, the Pentagon said. It was then dispatched to the Middle East to participate in combat operations against Iran.

USS Gerald R. Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk on June 24, 2025, and will have spent 326 days at sea, the longest carrier deployment since the Vietnam War.

The world’s largest aircraft carrier is finally returning home after etching its name into Navy history books.

The USS Gerald R. Ford completed a 326-day deployment, surpassing the previous record held by the USS Abraham Lincoln.