MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Oct. 13, 2023) Sailors assigned to the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 observe an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the "Tomcatters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 landing on the flight deck during flight operations in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Oct. 13, 2023. Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, representing a generational leap in the U.S. Navy's capacity to project power on a global scale. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, at the direction of the Secretary of Defense. The U.S. maintains forward-deployed, ready, and postured forces to deter aggression and support security and stability around the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly)