Summary and Key Points: The USS Nimitz, the oldest aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy, is set to be decommissioned in Fiscal Year 2026 after nearly 50 years of service. Launched in 1975, the Nimitz has been a cornerstone of American naval power, participating in significant operations worldwide.
-As the lead ship of its class, it symbolized cutting-edge military technology. The decommissioning process will involve the complex removal of its nuclear fuel and reactors, followed by dismantling.