Current Status of US Navy Aircraft Carriers and Upcoming Deployments
The US Navy has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, with typically only half deployed. The USS Nimitz is in the process of decommissioning, with plans to transfer to Norfolk, Virginia, by April 2026.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is undergoing maintenance and expected to deploy in early 2026, while the USS Carl Vinson recently completed the longest deployment in its history, lasting 269 days. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is conducting exercises in the Eastern Pacific, and the USS Abraham Lincoln is preparing for deployment following operations in the Red Sea.
The USS George Washington, the only forward-deployed carrier, recently arrived in Guam after supporting salvage operations. The USS John C. Stennis is in a lengthy RCOH expected to conclude by October 2026.
The USS Ronald Reagan is undergoing maintenance, and the USS George H.W. Bush is preparing for an upcoming deployment. The USS Gerald R. Ford is currently operating in the Caribbean to support US counter-narcotics efforts.
