US Navy Delays Nuclear-Powered Carrier Inactivation, Citing Deployment Pressures

The US Navy has decided to keep its oldest active aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, in service until March 2027, citing deployment strains as the reason for the extension. This move comes after a nine-month deployment to US Central Command and US Indo-Pacific Command, during which the crew completed 8,500 sorties and 17,000 flight hours. The Navy is awaiting its newest aircraft carrier, the second Ford-class John F. Kennedy, which is currently slated for delivery in March 2027.