The United States is expected to deploy a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East, Fox News reports.
USS George H.W. Bush completed its pre-deployment training on Thursday, according to the US Navy.
The US Naval Institute reports that the carrier, its escorting warships, and air wing “wrapped up the composite unit training exercise that all carrier strike groups must do before becoming certified for national tasking.”
Fox News says that the carrier strike group “is expected to deploy soon” and head to the eastern Mediterranean, where USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, was recently stationed.
USS Gerald R. Ford was seen moving through the Suez Canal on Thursday and is now in the Red Sea, according to photos released by the American military.
Meanwhile, USS Abraham Lincoln remains stationed in the Arabian Sea for strikes against Iran amid the war.
The US Navy is actively preparing the USS George H.W. Bush for deployment to the Middle East theater, which would create a historic concentration of American naval firepower.
The USS Abraham Lincoln is currently operating in the Arabian Gulf, and the USS Gerald R. Ford just arrived in the Red Sea. Adding the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) would mean three American nuclear-powered aircraft carriers operating simultaneously in the region, a concentration of firepower unseen in modern history.
The urgency to spin up the Bush is directly tied to the movements of the USS Gerald R. Ford. On March 5, the Navy released images of the Ford and the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge transiting the Suez Canal, moving from the Mediterranean into the Red Sea. With the Ford moving closer to the Iranian theater, the Bush is needed to reinforce the region and cover the exposed flanks.
While the primary target of Operation Epic Fury is Iran, the Red Sea positioning is highly strategic. Reports suggest that if the Bush deploys, it may be tasked with locking down the eastern Mediterranean or the Red Sea to neutralise any attacks from the Yemeni Houthis should they join the hostilities. Securing this chokepoint is critical as global shipping continues to reroute.
The US needs more carriers simply because they are running out of tactical airpower for a war this massive. CENTCOM reports that in just the first week of the campaign, over 3,000 targets have been hit, 43 Iranian ships have been severely damaged or sunk, and 80% of Iran’s air defences have been disabled. A sustained campaign of this scale requires the combined strike capabilities of multiple Carrier Air Wings.
Even with its combat certifications complete, deploying a floating city takes time. The Wall Street Journal reported that the “spin-up” orders were given weeks ago, but the Bush still has to physically cross the Atlantic. Military analysts project it will take roughly two to three weeks for the massive vessel to reach the Mediterranean or Red Sea, meaning it will likely arrive just as the war enters its critical fourth week.
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