By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
The Commander of US Central Command Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla says the USS Ford and its supporting strike group are in the Eastern Mediterranean to “address the risks of any party seeking to expand the conflict,” comments likely designed to send a warning message of deterrence to Iran, Hezbollah and other Iran-backed Hamas sympathizers.
The presence of the USS Ford Carrier Strike Group brings a massive amount of power within close range of Gaza, Israel and much of the Middle East, as it not only includes the Ford but also encompassess supporting warships such as DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. A statement from US Central Command says the Ford is supported by as many as four destroyers, the USS Ramage, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt. While the USS Ford can carry as many as 90 aircraft to include F-35Cs and F/A-18 fighter jets, the destroyers are capable of firing Tomahawks able to travel as far as 900 miles if needed to pinpoint enemy targets.
Pentagon has been clear that it supports Israel’s right to “defend itself” and has instantly fast-tracked air-defenses, weapons and ammunition to the Israeli Defense Forces to further fortify their attack capabilities and defenses against salvos of incoming Hamas rockets. While the Pentagon is likely quite clear about not wanting to directly involve US forces in the current IDF war on Hamas, the presence of the USS Ford is extremely significant for a number of key reasons.
Beyond merely existing as a “symbol of power” and visible support to Israel, the USS Ford is in position to exact a devastating combat effect upon any potential adversaries from the ocean. Given that Gaza, Israel and much of the Middle East are easily within range of the Ford’s air attack power projection capability, carrier launched attack aircraft such as the F-35C would be positioned to quickly achieve air supremacy and conduct surveillance or attack missions with
Lockheed information says the F-35C carries nearly 20,000 lbs of internal fuel and has a range of greater than 1,200 nautical miles, something which enables F-35C pilots to fly further and remain in a desired battlespace longer before refueling is necessary. The F-35C can carry more than 5,000 lbs of internal weapons, or more than 18,000 lbs of combined internal and external weapons.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization and the Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
