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The USS Gerald R. Ford has arrived in the Mediterranean after America sent its aircraft carrier to support Israel.<\/p>\n
It is in the area to \u201cdeter any actor\u201d looking to escalate the war with Hamas, the Biden administration announced yesterday.<\/p>\n
The ship is armed with RIM-7 Sea Sparrow Anti-Air missiles and a Phalanx CIWS, a radar-guided 20mm auto cannon which can fire 4,500 rounds per minute.<\/p>\n
Accounts on TikTok praised the warship, saying that despite its size, it is not a \u201csitting duck\u201d.<\/p>\n
The account artthunder99 noted the ship can travel 30 knots, or around 35mph.<\/p>\n
Flanked by its Carrier Strike Group, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said: \u201cThe US maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The $18 billion nuclear-powered ship is the US Navy\u2019s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier yet, and has capabilities that dwarf anything any other military force in the world. It is also the largest warship ever built.<\/p>\n
Stretching 337m long, 78m wide from the flight deck, and 76m high, it also displaces 100,000 tonnes at full load.<\/p>\n
The carrier\u2019s size allows it to support up to 90 aircraft, including the fifth-gen F-35, as well as a number of UAVs.<\/p>\n
To conduct all operations aboard the carrier, a crew of over 4,500 personnel is needed.<\/p>\n
The Gerald R. Ford left Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia for her maiden deployment on October 4 last year.<\/p>\n
But its presence in the Mediterranean marks the first full deployment for the aircraft carrier.<\/p>\n
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First laid down in November 2009, the Gerald R. Ford was built as an upgraded version of the Nimitz-class.<\/p>\n
Years of delay and costly setbacks meant the ship is one of the most expensive in history.<\/p>\n
The warship cost about $18 billion to develop, including $4.7 billion for research and development and $12.8 billion for construction.<\/p>\n
Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia called the ship a “$13 billion nuclear-powered floating berthing barge” in 2019.<\/p>\n
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