The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is scheduled to anchor in the Bay of Palma from October 3 to 8.
US officials are in Palma to prepare for the arrival of military personnel, twenty coaches having so far been arranged to pick them up at the port. The carrier has over 4,500 personnel. The National Police and the Guardia Civil have been informed of the crew's arrival for security reasons.
Based on visits by other US aircraft carriers, e.g. the USS Harry S. Truman in 2022, the economic benefit to Mallorca of this latest carrier is put at around ten million euros. This will be from spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping and transport (hire cars included).
The USS Gerald R. Ford and its carrier strike group have been deployed to the US 6th Fleet area of operations to support naval readiness, defend US and allied interests in Europe and Africa, and participate in operations with NATO allies. All this at a time, quite obviously, of the situation in the Middle East and of mounting tensions in Europe.
The aircraft carrier, named after former US president, Gerald Ford, is described as "a military machine without equal". Powered by nuclear reactors, it can carry up to 90 aircraft and is equipped with new electromagnetic catapults that allow it to launch 25% more fighter jets in a day and that require 25% fewer crew members.
The aircraft are the most advanced in the world - F/A-18 and F-35 fighter jets.