For the first time in 20 years: two US carrier strike groups are deployed in the Mediterranean (photo)
The U.S. Navy conducted exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean, in which two aircraft carrier strike groups took part. American warships arrived in the region after Hamas attacked Israel a month ago.
USS Gerald R. Ford was the first to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean. It is the largest and most expensive aircraft carrier in the world. Its value exceeded $13 billion. In addition, in the middle of last month, the aircraft carrier strike group USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The group includes missile cruisers and destroyers. They can use Tomahawk cruise missiles and Standard family anti-aircraft missiles. The use of Standard Missile 2 was demonstrated by the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney. It successfully shot down four rockets and a dozen and a half drones flying toward Israel.
The United States has concentrated two aircraft carrier strike groups in the Eastern Mediterranean for the first time in 20 years. The last time this happened was during the war in Iraq in 2003. However, for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s final destination is the Red Sea, where the amphibious assault ships USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall are stationed.
