Overview
- The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz arrived at Naval Station Norfolk after a months‑long deployment that included circumnavigating South America and serving as the centerpiece of the International Naval Review.
- About 3,000 sailors are assigned to the carrier, which hosted exercises and VIP visits with partner navies from 17 countries during the underway.
- The Navy announced Nimitz will remain in active service through at least March 2027 to align its retirement with the commissioning schedule of the new USS John F. Kennedy.
- While homeported in Norfolk, Nimitz will support carrier qualifications—training flights that require catapult launches and arrested landings, including day, night, and emergency procedures—to certify Navy and Marine aviators.
- The extension keeps an older but operational nuclear carrier available for training and possible deployments and eases the Navy’s transition plan for decommissioning and recycling the decades‑old ship.