The US Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), suffered a severe fire in its laundry room, requiring the ship to withdraw from combat operations and sail to US naval facilities in Europe for repairs. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Yet it is still likely a consequence of the ongoing campaign, as the crew has seen its deployment extended by months longer than expected.
Critics of the war in the Middle East have suggested that the carrier was overdue for much-needed maintenance, and that pushing it hard will only prolong the time it spends in port next.
On Thursday, March 19, an F-35A Lightning II suffered damage after being hit by Iranian ground fire. The conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) Lightning II was forced to make an emergency landing after taking damage. The pilot successfully landed, but suffered “shrapnel wounds” in the attack, indicating the significance of the damage. Unverified footage released by Iranian media after the incident appeared to show a missile strike against the plane, seriously damaging it. Each F-35A has a base cost of roughly $80 million. Läs artikel