The United States navy’s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier’s senior officer says the ship’s visit to Canada is a chance to reflect on the importance of cooperating closely with friends in naval combat.
The USS Gerald R. Ford’s commanding officer, Captain Paul Lanzilotta, said during a visit to Halifax harbour today that the flagship ship had participated in a training exercise in the North Atlantic during its first mission at sea.
According to him, the carrier’s first voyage has allowed for the testing of important capabilities, such as the ability to transfer bombs to the main deck and load them onto aircraft.
The “actual presence of the ship” in the harbour, according to Lanzilotta, demonstrates “how tight we are” with our Western allies.
Weighing in at more than 100,000 tonnes, the warship has been described as the world’s largest aircraft carrier.
Its staff numbers around 4,500 people, and it has a carrying capacity of over 75 aircraft.
The ship participated in naval drills with a number of NATO partners, including Canada, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany, before it arrived in Halifax.
The last time an American aircraft carrier visited Halifax was in June 2017, when the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived in time to mark Canada Day.
The Canadian Press first released this article on October 29, 2022.
Visit of an aircraft carrier to Halifax demonstrates “how tight” the US is with allies: commander
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