World’s oldest active supercarrier conducts one of its final major overseas missions

May 15, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The US Navy’s oldest active aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), has completed one of its final major overseas deployments after taking part in multinational naval exercises under the Southern Seas 2026 mission.

The exercise, led by US Naval Forces Southern Command/US 4th Fleet, concluded this week following a series of coordinated operations with partner navies across South America. The deployment included exercises and engagements with ten partner nations during a circumnavigation of South America

The mission, which took place from May 11–14, included port visits and joint drills with multiple regional allies, culminating in advanced at-sea exercises off the coast of Brazil. Activities featured passing exercises (PASSEX), tactical coordination drills, and professional exchanges aimed at improving interoperability and readiness among participating forces.

The carrier strike group centered around the Nimitz included Carrier Air Wing 17, Destroyer Squadron 9, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101). Together, the group conducted integrated maritime operations designed to strengthen regional security cooperation and enhance collective response capabilities.

According to the US Navy, the Southern Seas 2026 mission reaffirmed long-standing commitments to maritime security, freedom of navigation, and sustained naval partnerships across the Western Hemisphere. The deployment also served as a demonstration of operational reach and continued readiness, even as the carrier approaches the final years of its service life.

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The lead ship of its class, USS Nimitz, was commissioned on May 3, 1975, and named in honor of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who achieved the highest rank in the US Navy as Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet during World War II.

The carrier underwent a mid-life refueling and complex overhaul between 1998 and 2001, extending its service life by decades.

To remind, the US Navy decided to extend the operational life of the supercarrier, delaying its planned decommissioning until 2027.