Ford Heads Into Red Sea as Bush Carrier Group Finishes Training

USS Gerald R. Ford has moved into the Red Sea via the Suez Canal to operate in U.S. Central Command’s area amid Iran-related hostilities, with USS Bainbridge accompanying. USS George H.W. Bush completed its 28‑day Composite Unit Training Exercise and is ready to deploy, as Carrier Air Wing 7 logged thousands of sorties. Two carrier strike groups are on station (Ford in the Red Sea, Lincoln in the Arabian Sea), and Ford’s extension to about 11 months could push deployment length into Vietnam-era ranges, impacting return and maintenance schedules.