The USS Nimitz spent a long time at sea, nevertheless it’s not precisely the identical ship it was in 1975. Each time it went in for refueling, it additionally underwent overhauls. The first of those occurred from 1983 to 1984, with the second from 1998 till 2001. Each time the ship is overhauled, it is given the most recent tech to convey it on top of things with the opposite vessels in its class. While there are 10 Nimitz-class plane carriers, the design modified all through the constructing course of, which concluded in 2006 with the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77).

That ship is extra superior now than on its first deployment. Unfortunately, regardless of its intensive service document and retained fight capabilities, the Nimitz will not stay in operation eternally. The U.S. Navy switched to new Ford-class carriers with the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) commissioning in 2017.

As of 2024, the USS Nimitz has been in service for 49 years, nevertheless it was initially slated for retirement in 2022. That did not occur, and its new end-of-life date is predicted to be someday in fiscal 12 months 2026, which begins in October 2025. It takes a while to decommission an plane service just like the Nimitz, so it would not turn into inactive till 2027 if the plan holds. Once decommissioned, which is a expensive and troublesome course of, the Nimitz will retire to Newport News, Virginia.