On September 28, 2025, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, sailed into Norway’s Oslofjord as part of NATO’s Neptune Strike 25-3 exercise. The rare move follows Russian airspace violations and drone incursions across Nordic and Baltic regions, signaling that NATO is ramping up deterrence on its northern flank.
Carrying more than 75 combat aircraft and equipped with EMALS catapults, dual-band radar, and a state-of-the-art defensive suite, the Ford serves as the centerpiece of the exercise. Neptune Strike 25-3 involves 10,000 troops from 13 member states across four maritime theaters. For the first time in years, NATO has placed a U.S. supercarrier strike group under direct operational control to practice fully integrated, high-end warfare.
Its presence places unmatched power within reach of Russia’s Arctic approaches and North Atlantic lanes, shifting the regional balance. Live-fire drills, amphibious operations, and anti-submarine warfare exercises underline that this is not a ceremonial port call but a real readiness demonstration.
With the Ford leading the exercise, NATO sends Moscow an unmistakable message: the alliance is prepared to act decisively across air, sea, and land should provocations escalate.
