The United States Navy currently has two aircraft carrier strike groups operating near Iran. The USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78) has had its deployment extended, while the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), originally in the South China Sea, was redirected to the Middle East in January 2026, reported Forbes.
The USS George HW Bush (CVN-77) is the tenth and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier of the US Navy. It is named after the 41st President of the United States, George HW Bush, who also served during World War II as a naval aviator. It can hold about 5,000 sailors and airmen. It was delivered to the US Navy in May 2009. NDTV reported.
Size, Power, Specifications
Measuring over 1,092 feet in length, with a full-load displacement of over 100,000 tons, the USS George HW Bush is one of the largest warships ever constructed. It's equipped with two nuclear reactors to power four steam turbines, allowing the vessel to reach speeds of over 30 knots. The ship's flight deck covers an area of 4.5 acres.
The USS George HW Bush can carry up to 56 fixed-wing aircraft, including F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets (A, C, E, and F variants), the Grumman EA-6B Prowler, and the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, along with up to 15 helicopters. The carrier can launch aircraft at a rate of one every 20 seconds, supported by four deck-edge elevators that allow large aircraft to move directly over the side of the ship. To support operations, the carrier carries around 8,500 tons of aviation fuel, ensuring sustained flight operations for extended deployments.
