USS Gerald R. Ford makes historic visit to Oslo - US aircraft carrier arrives in Norway for the first time since 1958

Norway has not had an American aircraft carrier for nearly 65 years since the USS Intrepid (CVA-11) visited the Scandinavian country in the summer of 1958. But that all changed on 24 May when the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) arrived in Oslo.

Here's What We Know

The US Navy aircraft carrier is undertaking its first full mission since being commissioned four years ago. The visit comes amid growing US-Norwegian military cooperation.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is the world's largest aircraft carrier. It has a displacement of over 98,000 tonnes and is 337m long, up to 78m wide and 76m high. It is equipped with two 700MW Bechtel A1B nuclear reactors. The aircraft carrier is capable of speeds of up to 56 kilometres per hour.

The ship can accommodate up to 90 aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. This includes the fourth-generation F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters. The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is equipped with the AN/SPY-3 multifunction radar and the RIM-161 Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile system.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) was ordered in September 2008 and construction began in November 2009. The ship was launched in November 2019 and commissioned on the last day of spring 2017.

Source: @USNavyEurope