Oldest Active Carrier Gets Reprieve Amid Deployment Pressures
The US Navy has decided to extend the service life of its oldest active aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, to March 2027. The move pushes back previous plans to mothball the ship in May and allows the Navy to maintain its fleet of 11 carriers. The Nimitz recently completed a nine-month deployment to US Central Command and US Indo-Pacific Command, supporting operations against the Islamic State in Somalia. The extension comes as the Navy awaits the delivery of its newest Ford-class carrier, the John F. Kennedy, which is expected in March 2027. This development was first reported by Breaking Defense.