World’s largest aircraft carrier visits France

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), has arrived in Marseille, France, for a scheduled port visit with Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81).

As disclosed, the ships arrived in France on August 4, 2025. Both vessels are part of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, on a scheduled deployment in the US 6th Fleet area of operations to support the warfighting effectiveness of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa.

“The visit of the USS Gerald R. Ford to Marseille is symbolic of the Franco-American alliance,” said Charles Kushner, U.S. Ambassador to the French Republic.

“This ship embodies America’s excellence in the defense industry-it is the newest and most adaptable aircraft carrier in the U.S. fleet, in addition to being the largest aircraft carrier in the world.”

While in port, crews and embarked personnel from both ships will participate in tours of Marseille, Paris, and Monaco, as well as hosting a reception aboard Gerald R. Ford.

Gerald R. Ford, Carrier Air Wing Eight, and Destroyer Squadron Two ships USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan conducted multi-domain operations in the Atlantic before transiting the Strait of Gibraltar with Spanish frigate ESPS Canarias and Italian ship ITS Spartaco Schergat. They took part in Neptune Strike 25-2 before arriving in Marseille.

Construction of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) kicked off on August 11, 2005, with Northrop Grumman performing a ceremonial steel cut for a 15-ton plate destined for the carrier’s side shell. The keel was officially laid on November 13, 2009.

The aircraft carrier was delivered to the US Navy on May 31, 2017, and commissioned by President Donald Trump during a ceremony on July 22, 2017. It completed its first deployment in 2024.