The Navy’s Big Mistake: Retiring the USS Nimitz Aircraft Carrier

The U.S. military has been surprised at the longevity and ferocity of the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. The militants just do not want to stop shooting missiles and firing drones at the U.S. military and international civilian shipping.

This insurgency is tying up two aircraft carriers in the Middle East that would be better used in East Asia to blunt the aggressiveness of China, especially its designs on Taiwan. There is also Russia to think about in the Black Sea, plus Iran in the Persian Gulf. Don’t forget Hamas and Hezbollah in the Levant.

Extending the life of the Nimitz may make sense. The U.S. would then have 12 carriers temporarily. However, a third of those are in maintenance, refit, or re-fueling, but the Nimitz would be one more carrier for deployments to hot spots.  

Retire a Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier? 

President Donald Trump has also threatened Iran with an attack if it doesn’t agree to a deal to keep it from developing a nuclear weapon. If negotiations fail, that could mean the two aircraft carriers in the Middle East, the USS Harry S. Truman and the USS Carl Vinson, would have to take part in strikes against Iran in the worst-case scenario.

More carriers would be welcome, and extending the life of the Nimitz might just be necessary because of the extensive geopolitical threat environment.

Could the Nimitz Answer the Call for a Minimum of Five Years?

Admirals, Pentagon officials, and Members of Congress have examined the possibility in which the Nimitz could serve longer. This could be the time that all minds, including the president, meld on the subject.

This may result in the Nimitz sailing the high seas for another five to ten years.

Is It Time for More Peace Through Strength?

However, carriers are expensive to keep in the water and require long maintenance periods. With Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths’ budget cutting, it could be difficult to allocate the funds to the Nimitz. 

However, like President Ronald Reagan, Trump and Hegseth want to restore lethality to the Navy and increase the likelihood of peace through strength. 

Nimitz could be a part of that mantra should it survive to fight on over the next few years.

A Missile Shield Is Needed to Protect Carrier Strike Groups 

USS Nimitz would lead strike groups, and the Aegis Combat System’s missile shield would mostly protect it. However, China has carrier-killing missiles, and the advanced age of the Nimitz could be a problem when facing the anti-ship armaments of the Chinese.

Escort ships may have directed energy systems someday (they are being tested now) that can protect the flotilla from an adversarial attack of missiles. Newer electronic warfare systems can better spoof and jam enemy bogeys.

The United States must also decide the extent to which it would protect Taiwan, which could be blockaded or even attacked by China. Twelve carriers would help give the United States more options should it intervene. This could mean three to four American flat-tops in the Indo-Pacific, and the Nimitz could be part of that force.

(Feb. 17, 2009) An EA-18G Growler assigned to the “Vikings” of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 129 aligns itself for an at sea landing aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Growler is the replacement for the EA-6B Prowler, which will be replaced in the 2010 timeframe. Ronald Reagan is underway performing Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications in the Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Torrey W. Lee/Released).

The Nimitz has also been upgraded, which is another plus for keeping it around. The command and control systems are improved. The Nimitz could launch drones, even the new MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker that is due to fly later this year and be deployed in 2026. 

The USS Nimitz can and should be extended. It is the oldest carrier in the fleet, and in a perfect world, it would not be needed, but there are too many threats to deal with. I didn’t even mention North Korea, which is improving its submarine force and surface fleet by the day.

This is another reason to keep it around. Plus, you would have some happy Navy sailors who wouldn’t mind more missions. Combat deployments have a way of sometimes improving morale when personnel know their jobs are being executed in a high-risk and high-reward environment.

Save the USS Nimitz

So, give the USS Nimitz an extended life. It is desperately needed at a time when the world is this dangerous. Carriers could indeed succumb to anti-ship missiles, but there is no better way to answer the call to thwart enemies worldwide. 

This may not be the best time to retire, as this is such a valuable asset that can do so much to strengthen deterrence and carry the flag as a symbol of American military might.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.