USS Gerald R. Ford supercarrier enters Norway in rare U.S.-NATO move to counter Russia.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, sailed into Norway’s Oslofjord on Sept. 28 during NATO’s Neptune Strike 25-3 exercise. Its arrival follows Russian drone provocations and airspace violations, underscoring rising tensions at NATO’s northern flank.

On September 28, 2025, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, entered the Oslofjord in Norway as part of NATO’s Neptune Strike 25-3, as reported by NATO. Amid heightened Russian aggression, including repeated airspace violations and a wave of unexplained drone sightings near NATO military installations, the Ford’s arrival marks a significant escalation in allied readiness. That's something you don't see every day, an American supercarrier cruising the narrow, icy waters of a Nordic fjord with its full strike group. Its presence speaks volumes at a time when Europe’s security architecture is being tested at its northern edge.
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The presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford at the heart of NATO’s Neptune Strike 25-3 is a deliberate counter to Russian escalation, a visible and unambiguous projection of overwhelming force (Picture source: NATO)

The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford is not merely a demonstration of force but a clear operational signal. Carrying over 75 combat-ready aircraft and armed with electromagnetic launch systems, dual-band radar, and the most advanced layered defensive suite ever deployed at sea, the Ford is the centerpiece of Neptune Strike 25-3, a high-intensity NATO exercise involving 10,000 personnel from 13 member states. This third iteration of the Neptune Strike series spans four maritime theaters, including the North, Baltic, Adriatic, and Mediterranean seas, with the Ford Carrier Strike Group operating under direct NATO command in the North Sea. For the first time in recent memory, NATO has placed such a critical asset under its operational authority to practice fully integrated, high-end joint warfare.

The timing of the exercise is no coincidence. Russian military aircraft have been probing the airspace of Nordic and Baltic nations with growing frequency, and in Denmark, authorities have confirmed multiple drone intrusions over sensitive military areas and civilian airports, attributing them to what they call a “professional actor.” While not officially linked to NATO's response, these incidents underscore the hybrid threat landscape that Neptune Strike seeks to address. The Ford’s deployment into this environment drastically alters the regional deterrence equation. With its unmatched sortie generation rates and full-spectrum strike capabilities, the Ford introduces a strategic imbalance that favors NATO’s forward posture.

Technically, the Ford represents a generational leap beyond legacy carriers. Its electromagnetic catapults allow for more efficient aircraft launches, increasing both sortie rates and aircraft lifespan. The dual-band radar system simultaneously tracks aerial and missile threats, while its automated systems require a smaller crew footprint for higher efficiency. Compared to Russia’s lone and aging Admiral Kuznetsov, plagued by reliability issues and limited operational reach, the Ford is a quantum leap in naval power. Even when measured against emerging platforms like China’s Type 003 Fujian, the Gerald R. Ford holds the edge in systems integration, combat readiness, and alliance interoperability.

But it is not just about technology. Geography and timing lend this deployment strategic weight. The Ford's navigation into the Oslofjord places the world’s most lethal maritime platform within reach of Russia’s critical Arctic and North Atlantic access points. It is a calculated act of forward deterrence, reinforcing NATO’s commitment to defend its Nordic allies, including Norway and recently joined Finland. The presence of a U.S. supercarrier in these waters, backed by a multinational NATO task force, sends an unmistakable signal to Moscow: the alliance is not just watching, it is ready to act across domains and borders.

That's something you don’t see every day, the world’s largest aircraft carrier maneuvering through waters usually reserved for coastal fishing fleets and commercial ferries. But this is no ceremonial visit. The Ford’s deployment is embedded in live-fire drills, amphibious assault rehearsals, anti-submarine operations, and command-and-control exercises across sea, air, and land domains. It embodies NATO’s growing urgency to move from reactive to proactive defense in the face of Russian provocations that blur the lines between peace and conflict.

With the USS Gerald R. Ford now under NATO operational control, the strategic calculus in Europe’s northern region has shifted decisively. Russia’s persistent gray-zone tactics, from airspace violations to covert drone surveillance, have met a credible, mobile, and heavily armed counterforce. The Ford’s presence not only reinforces the alliance's military edge but exposes the growing risks Moscow faces by escalating tension in Europe’s most sensitive zones. NATO has drawn a line, on water, in the air, and across cyber and space domains. And with the Gerald R. Ford leading the charge, that line is backed by overwhelming force.

The presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford at the heart of NATO’s Neptune Strike 25-3 is a deliberate counter to Russian escalation, a visible and unambiguous projection of overwhelming force. As unexplained drone activity and unauthorized incursions challenge NATO’s northern airspace, the Ford’s combat systems, aviation assets, and command integration bring decisive capabilities to the frontline. Russia now faces not only a better-prepared alliance, but one actively rehearsing war at its doorstep, on air, sea, and land. The stakes have been redefined, and deterrence has taken on an unmistakably hard edge.

Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.