American most expensive warship ever built retreats from Iran conflict after a laundry room fire, Pentagon admits it may not be combat-ready

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has pulled into port in Crete after a laundry room fire forced it to leave operations against Iran. The fire resulted in over 200 sailors needing treatment for smoke inhalation, as Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, noted in a letter to Navy Secretary John Phelan.

Beyond the fire, the Pentagon is openly admitting that the most expensive warship ever built may not be combat-ready. According to Bloomberg, a recent assessment from the Pentagon’s testing office laid out a range of concerns, from serious issues to minor ones, many of which surfaced after the ship began combat testing in October 2022.

The testing office stated that “insufficient data are available at this time” to determine the Ford-class’s “operational effectiveness.” This means it is unclear how well the Ford can detect, track, or intercept enemy aircraft, anti-ship missiles, or small attack craft, and how its systems would hold up during continuous wartime operations.

The Ford’s combat readiness problems go deeper than a single fire

The Ford was delivered years late in May 2017, and since then it has been sent on extended deployments, including operations involving Venezuela and Iran, while serious questions about its wartime performance have remained unanswered.

There is not enough current test data to determine the reliability of several key systems, including its jet launch and recovery system, radar, survivability under enemy fire, and the elevators that move weapons to the flight deck. President Trump has faced pressure over how his Iran policy has shifted under negotiations, which adds more context to why the Ford’s deployment has been so prolonged.

The Ford has been at sea for around nine months since last June, far exceeding a standard seven-month deployment. Senator Kaine noted that the Ford “is on track to break the record for longest carrier deployment since the end of the Vietnam War,” adding that the extended tour has “forced sailors to improvise with broken equipment and ship support systems.”

While the Ford’s ability to defend itself against drones and small, fast attack boats was tested in 2022, the Navy developed fixes for these combat systems, but they still “remain largely unfunded.” 

There is also a berthing shortfall, as the ship needs 159 additional bunks to properly house all its sailors, plus temporary personnel who join for battle. The testing office warned that “these berthing shortfalls will affect quality of life onboard.”

Navy officials have stated that they “have been working closely” with test office personnel, “ensuring a robust and informed understanding” of the vessel’s “effectiveness and sustainability.”

They also said operations have “demonstrated the ship’s ability to meet the demands of combatant commanders with system reliability and maintainability, supporting mission accomplishment” while “continuing to improve.” Analysts have also pointed to what Israel wants from Iran’s energy resources as a key factor shaping the broader regional conflict that has kept the Ford deployed.

The Ford cost $13.2 billion, making it the most expensive warship ever built. With the current list of unresolved issues surrounding a ship of this cost and importance, its performance and readiness remain a serious concern.