Biggest warship in world pays visit to UK

The biggest warship in the world has moored off the south coast of England.

The 333m-long USS Gerald R Ford, which is the newest and largest aircraft carrier in the US fleet and the biggest in the world, has dropped anchor in the Solent near Gosport, Hampshire.

The giant warship, which cost $12.8 billion (about £10.8 billion) to build, is visiting to allow its 4,500 crew members a spot of “liberty” in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and in London.

The 100,000-ton warship, which is about 50m longer than the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth, is visiting the UK in its first foreign port visit outside North America.

The huge flight deck is packed with more than 40 aircraft, including dozens of F-18 jets, as seen in the Top Gun: Maverick movie.

Captain Paul Lanzilotta, the commanding officer of the warship, which is the first in a new class of aircraft carriers, said: “This ship is badass, I will just put it that way.

“It’s a really great system of systems, high technology is everywhere you walk on this ship. We have a little bit of the new-car feel, there is a bit of a buzz about the biggest, baddest warship of the fleet and our sailors feel that.”

He added: “The US aircraft carrier brings with it power projection, it’s a visible statement of presence wherever we go, it shows commitment to our allies and to peace and stability in the region.”

USS Gerald R Ford.