Nimitz-class carriers at sea
The first-in-class USS Gerald Ford carrier operated alongside the Nimitz-class USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in October amid high tensions in the Middle East.
Credit: Petty Officer 3rd Class Janae Chambers/U.S. Navy  

Aviation Week: U.S. Navy Considers Extending All Its Nimitz-Class Carriers 

The U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class carriers are about to turn 50. But given the demand for the carrier air wing and delays to the Nimitz-class replacement—the Ford-class—the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) itself is unlikely to retire as soon as expected. 

The Navy’s fiscal 2023 budget has already called to extend the first-in-class CVN 68, commissioned in 1975, for another deployment cycle instead of decommissioning it in 2025 as previously planned. Service officials say the upcoming budget request could include a final decision on extending the next in the class, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, beyond its 2027 projected end-of-service date—though extending just that ship likely will not be enough. 

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WNU Editor: The US Navy is also looking to speed-up production of future aircraft carriers …. US Navy mulls timing of new double-carrier award amid Enterprise delay (Defense News).