The American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest and most technologically advanced vessel of its kind in the world, docked at Souda Bay at midday on Clean Monday.
Its arrival in Crete is part of the scheduled presence of the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.
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The aircraft carrier, the first of its namesake class in the United States, is accompanied by the destroyer USS Mahan.
Construction began in 2009 and it was launched in 2013. It entered service on July 22, 2017, and has a crew of 4,500. It is 333 meters long, 78 meters wide, has a displacement of 100,000 tons, a speed of 30 knots, and can operate for 20 years without refueling. It can carry more than 75 aircraft of various types, including:
- F-35C Lightning II
- F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
- EA-18G Growler (electronic warfare)
- E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (early warning and control)
- MH-60R/S helicopters
- Unmanned aerial vehicles
Washington has so far deployed 13 warships to the Middle East: one aircraft carrier—the Abraham Lincoln—nine destroyers, and three littoral combat ships. It is worth noting that the U.S. had again deployed two aircraft carriers to the region in June 2025 during the bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to the schedule, the USS G. Ford passed through the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday and is expected to anchor at Souda until Friday, in order to carry out refueling operations and allow the crew time to rest.
Its arrival at Souda is attracting increased interest, both militarily and geopolitically, as Crete remains a key hub for U.S. operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft has been spotted in the vicinity of Crete, Greece.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 23, 2026
It arrived at Souda Bay on Crete for a port visit. pic.twitter.com/NIDa5BzzdI
Congestion of F-35 fighter jets at Souda airport
Beyond the warships, transfers of U.S. fighter aircraft toward the Middle East are also continuing, as Washington continues to consider the possibility of a military strike against Iran.
According to a post by Clashreport on the X platform on Saturday—accompanied by video—a large number of F-35s, A-10s, refueling aircraft, transport aircraft, and special operations aircraft are present in Souda Bay in Greece.
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