dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

NCSWIC

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the largest and most modern aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, has entered the operational zone of the U.S. Southern Command, encompassing the Caribbean and Latin America, as of November 11, 2025.

This deployment, confirmed by the Pentagon, is part of a military campaign to combat drug trafficking, with the carrier's presence aimed at enhancing the detection, monitoring, and disruption of illicit activities in the region.

The Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of the Gerald R. Ford-class, a new generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers designed to replace the older Nimitz-class fleet.

The carrier, commissioned in 2017, is over 1,100 feet long and displaces approximately 100,000 tons, making it the world's largest warship.

It features advanced technologies such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which improves launch efficiency and reduces crew requirements compared to previous models.

The ship carries a crew of approximately 5,000 personnel and dozens of tactical aircraft, including F-35 Lightning II strike fighters and F-22 Raptor fighters.

Its deployment has heightened regional tensions, particularly with Venezuela, as the U.S. campaign against drug trafficking has raised concerns about potential future military actions on Venezuelan soil, although no such plans have been officially confirmed.

The Pentagon asserts that the mission is focused on disrupting transnational criminal organizations and safeguarding U.S. and Western Hemisphere security, though critics argue the actions lack congressional authorization and may constitute extrajudicial killings