US Aircraft Carrier Arrives In European Waters And Tests F-18 Takeoff Very Quickly The world's largest warship, and the US Navy's newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier, Arrives in European waters for its first deployment. USS Gerald R. Ford recently completed Exercise Silent Wolverine, a series of maritime exercises off the coast of Portugal involving 11 ships from six other NATO Allies. Russia was outraged by the plan, calling it an illogical and dangerous show of force. The Russian Embassy in Norway expressed strong condemnation of the planned visit by the American aircraft carrier.