US Navy E-2D Orbit Reveals USS Gerald R. Ford Position in the Red Sea as Carrier Strike Group Regroups for Indian Ocean Operations against Iran

Yesterday afternoon the position of this US Navy Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (reg. 168077) likely revealed the location of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. The aircraft had taken off from the carrier and was orbiting around its position.

Several sources indicate that the Ford is currently waiting for the rest of its Carrier Strike Group to regroup after the Suez transit before resuming navigation toward the Indian Ocean. The deployment is expected to support operations related to Iran.

Reassembling the full strike group would allow the carrier to pass the Bab el-Mandeb and the Yemeni strait with greater protection, where the threat posed by Houthi forces — although reduced in recent months — still remains a factor.