Carriers (Page 2)

Latest in Carriers

The U.S. Navy has recovered an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz that crashed within half an hour of each other in the South China Sea on Oct. 26.
USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

Navy Recovers Crashed Super Hornet, Seahawk From Bottom Of South China Sea

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

Ticonderoga class firing SM-2
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

How USS Gettysburg Ended Up Shooting Down A Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet

By Howard Altman

Updated on Dec 5, 2025

In an apparent first since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter has been destroyed, in a drone strike, according to Ukrainian reports.
Admiral Kuznetsov

First Russian MiG-29 Claimed Destroyed In Ukraine, But That May Not Be The Whole Story

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 4, 2025

The Navy released findings of investigation into four mishaps aboard the USS Truman supercarrier
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

F/A-18 Super Hornet Shot Down By Navy Cruiser Investigation Findings Released (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 4, 2025

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker offloads fuel to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, assigned to the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 8, 2025. The KC-135 Stratotanker is the backbone of U.S. Air Forces Central's global reach aerial refueling capability and delivers critical support to joint and coalition aircraft in order to guarantee war-winning airpower throughout the CENTCOM AOR.
Carriers

Super Hornet Seen With Rare SLAM-ER Missile Loadout On Yemen Mission

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 3, 2025

The Navy's USNS Salvor is on scene to try and find two aircraft that crashed off the USS Nimitz last month.
USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

Navy Salvage Ship Trying To Fish Crashed Super Hornet And Seahawk Out Of South China Sea

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 20, 2025

As U.S. President Donald Trump suggests Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro wants to talk, the USS Ford is now about 700 miles north of Caracas.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

Pressure On Maduro Cranked Up As USS Gerald R. Ford Arrives In Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 17, 2025

Recent imagery indicates that China is progressing work on a new aircraft carrier, its fourth, which is widely expected to introduce nuclear propulsion. The development comes just a week after the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its first domestically produced carrier, the Fujian. Meanwhile, there are signs that Beijing may also still be working on at least one more conventionally powered carrier, too.
Carriers

Strong Evidence That China’s Next Carrier Will Be Nuclear Emerges In Shipyard Photo

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 12, 2025

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle expressed concern about the strain on the USS Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group after more than 200 days at sea.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford Enters U.S. Southern Command’s Area Of Responsibility

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 11, 2025

Though the Trump administration's goals for Venezuela remain unclear, more military assets could be on the way to the Caribbean.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

U.S. Examining Sites To Send Additional Military Assets To Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

China's growing weapons programs puts pressure on intelligence community.
Kuznetsov Class (and variants)

Can U.S. Intel Keep Up With China’s Tsunami Of Weapons Developments?

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

China has now formally commissioned its first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, into service.
Carriers

China Commissions Newest Aircraft Carrier With Its Electromagnetic Catapults Front And Center

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

The U.K. Royal Navy flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, is now carrying 24 F-35B fighters — the largest number to go aboard either of the U.K’s two aircraft carriers. This is a significant achievement for the British F-35 force, which has long faced questions about the feasibility of deploying a meaningful number of the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jets at sea — without U.S. Marine Corps aircraft making up the numbers.
Carriers

British Carrier Hosts Largest Number Of F-35Bs On A Ship Ever

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

The USS Ford was ordered to the Middle East after CNO expressed concerns about the ships and crew after months at sea.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

Carrier USS Ford Holding Off Of North Africa As Trump Reportedly Won’t Strike Venezuela

By Howard Altman

Updated on Nov 6, 2025

A high-ranking Russian official said Moscow recently delivered air defense systems to Venezuela.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

Moscow Just Gave Venezuela Air Defenses, Not Ruling Out Strike Missiles: Russian Official

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 4, 2025

After a string of exotic stealthy combat jets, both crewed and uncrewed, the latest new Chinese military aircraft to break cover is somewhat different, but nonetheless interesting. The latest development concerns an advanced jet trainer, but one that clearly has considerable potential as a light combat aircraft, too.
Carriers

New Chinese Advanced Training Jet Breaks Cover

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 28, 2025

President Donald Trump says he plans to sign an executive order that would compel the U.S. Navy to use steam-powered catapults and hydraulic elevators on new aircraft carriers.
USS George Washington (CVN-73)

Executive Order To Go Back To Steam Catapults On New Aircraft Carriers Coming: Trump

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 28, 2025

Nimitz hornet and seakhawk crash
Carriers

“Bad Fuel” May Have Caused Back-To-Back Nimitz Aircraft Crashes: Trump

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 27, 2025

The Navy has moved several warships deployed to the Caribbean out of the path of Hurricane Melissa.
Carriers

Massive Hurricane Forces Movement Of Several Navy Ships Deployed To Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 27, 2025

The U.S. Navy's supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford and at least a portion of the rest of its strike group have been ordered to Latin American waters.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

Supercarrier USS Ford Being Pulled From Europe And Ordered To Caribbean

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 24, 2025

The Navy explained why damage was still seen on the USS Harry Truman months after a collision at sea.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

Carrier USS Truman’s Collision Damage Won’t Be Repaired Until It Goes Through Complex Overhaul

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 10, 2025

The U.S. Department of Defense may finally be ready to choose which company will develop and build the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter. A report from Reuters today states that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally gave the green light for the selection last Friday. However, this is not the first time that there have been reports that this decision was imminent, as you can read about here.
Carriers

Navy F/A-XX Stealth Fighter Selection Imminent: Reports

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 7, 2025

J-35 launches aboard carrier.
Carriers

China’s Aircraft Carrier Capability Just Made A Stunning Leap Forward

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 22, 2025

The U.S. Navy has taken an important step forward toward acquiring new carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) type drones with contracts to Anduril, Boeing, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
Carriers

Navy Carrier-Based ‘Loyal Wingman’ Drone Development Suddenly Pushes Forward (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 5, 2025

Boeing has provided a new rendering for its F/A-XX proposal and it’s remarkably similar to concept artwork that has already been released for its F-47, selected for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) ‘fighter’ initiative. While it’s important to not read too much into the final appearance of either of those aircraft, based on these concepts, the new rendering does, at least, correspond with Boeing’s previous suggestions that the F/A-XX and F-47 would incorporate some commonality.
Carriers

Boeing’s New F/A-XX Next Gen Naval Fighter Concept Looks Familiar

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 29, 2025

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, commonly referred to as the service's "Air Boss," is still "eagerly awaiting" a new F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter despite the uncertainty now swirling around that program.
Carriers

F/A-XX Next Generation Naval Fighter Selection Could Still Happen

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 25, 2025

Naval aviators need to be able to trust any future drone wingmen as much as their human counterparts, a U.S. Navy strike fighter tactics instructor has told TWZ.
Carriers

Navy Fighter Pilots Need To Gain Trust In Pilotless Wingmen By Actually Flying With Them

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 22, 2025

The U.K. Royal Air Force F-35B stealth jet that was forced to make an emergency diversion to Japan last week is still there, the U.K. Ministry of Defense has told TWZ.
Queen Elizabeth Class

UK F-35B Still Stranded In Japan Is Awaiting Spare Parts

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 14, 2025

Northrop Grumman has released a new rendering of a possible configuration for its submission for the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based combat jet. The program has long been even more secretive than the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance jet, with only a handful of concept artworks previously released. In the meantime, the future of the Navy program is being increasingly questioned, with the service and Pentagon officials apparently at loggerheads about how best to proceed with it.
Carriers

F/A-XX Next Generation Naval Fighter Concept Art Emerges From Northrop Grumman

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Aug 7, 2025

The latest addition to China’s growing family of Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter series, the J-15DT electronic warfare version, appears to have entered operational service. Crucially, this electronic attack Flanker is equipped for operations aboard catapult-equipped aircraft carriers like the Fujian, which recently began to host fixed-wing aircraft trials. Progress with the J-15DT points not only to China’s the scope of carrier aviation ambitions, but the growing focus on catapult assisted takeoff but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) operations, which offer many advantages.
Carriers

Our Best Look At China’s New J-15DT Carrier-Based Electronic Warfare Jet

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 5, 2025

Signs are growing that China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is close to demonstrating its ability to launch and recover aircraft from its first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, if it has not done so already.
Carriers

China Teases First Catapult Launches From Its New Carrier Fujian

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 1, 2025

Ground testing has begun on the production representative MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone for the U.S. Navy, which comes ahead of an expected first flight before the end of this year.
Carriers

MQ-25 Stingray Carrier-Based Uncrewed Tanker Ground Testing Now Underway

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 29, 2025

A new photo suggests that China’s Shenyang J-35, its next-generation carrier-based fighter, has now entered limited series production and is also in service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The photo joins a succession of imagery showing some of China’s latest military aircraft in great detail, including previous views of the same type of jet, although still in prototype form, as you can see in our previous coverage here.
Carriers

China’s J-35 Naval Stealth Fighter Looks Set For Service

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 19, 2025

Russian Navy's lone aircraft carrier, the Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov, is towed to the 35th squadron shipyard for maintenance and repair works in Murmansk, Russia on May 20, 2022. It is aimed to be completed the maintenance and repair works by the end of 2023.
Admiral Kuznetsov

Russia May Finally Abandon Its Cursed Aircraft Carrier

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 11, 2025

The latest addition to General Atomics' MQ-9B medium-altitude long-endurance drone family is set to be an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) configured version.
Queen Elizabeth Class

MQ-9B Airborne Early Warning Variant Could Fill Major Aerial Surveillance Gaps

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 17, 2025

The aircraf carrier USS Nimitz has recently seen its service life extended, a sign of stress on the fleet.
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)

Major U.S. Middle East-Focused Buildup Confirmed (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 16, 2025

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has released photos showing two of its aircraft carriers operating simultaneously for the first time beyond the so-called First Island Chain in the western Pacific.
Liaoning (16)

Two Chinese Aircraft Carriers Are Operating Beyond The First Island Chain For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 10, 2025

Royal Navy wants to arm carriers with drones and long-range missiles
Carriers

Royal Navy To Arm Its Carriers With Long-Range Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 3, 2025

A front view rendering of PA-Ng, dated 2022.
Carriers

French Navy Offers Sneak Peek Of Its Future Carrier Air Wing

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 22, 2025

Hornet crashed aboard the USS Harry S Truman
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

Super Hornet Crashes Landing On USS Truman, Its Second F/A-18 Loss In A Week

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 7, 2025

USS Harry Truman Was Evading Houthi Attack When F/A-18 Super Hornet Rolled Off Its Deck
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

USS Harry Truman Was Evading Houthi Attack When F/A-18 Super Hornet Rolled Off Its Deck

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Apr 28, 2025

China’s full-size aircraft carrier test facility, a key part of the country’s path toward establishing a carrier fleet and associated air wings, has been modified once again. The latest reworking suggests that the aircraft carrier mockup is now intended to represent a layout similar to the U.S. Navy’s Ford class. This may well point to the configuration of China’s next homegrown carrier design, or at least one of the configurations now under study.
Liaoning (16)

China’s Giant Land-Based Carrier Mockup Grows In Size, Now Resembles Ford Class

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 16, 2025

CCAs and super hornet
Carriers

Navy Won’t Scramble To Field Loyal Wingman Drones Like The Air Force

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Apr 8, 2025

The U.S. Navy expects its future F/A-XX sixth-generation stealth fighters to offer just a 25 percent increase in range over the existing tactical combat jets in its carrier air wings.
Carriers

F/A-XX Will Have Just 25% More Range Than Existing Navy Fighters

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 7, 2025

Satellite imagery shows work on the first of Russia's Project 23900 big-deck amphibious assault ships, also known as the Ivan Rogov class, is continuing at a shipyard on the occupied Crimean Peninsula.
Carriers

Russia’s New Helicopter Carrier Is Taking Shape In Crimea

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 4, 2025

President Donald Trump, through his pick to be the next Secretary of the Navy, has thrust long-running criticisms of what is commonly called "running rust" on American warships back into the mainstream limelight.
Carriers

Warships Caked In Rust Prompting Late Night Trump Texts To Navy Secretary Nominee

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 28, 2025

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is back at sea conducting routine operations after a week in port in Greece for repairs.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman Back At Sea After Collision Repairs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 24, 2025

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is now in port in Greece for repairs following the collision with the cargo ship M/V Besiktas-M this past week.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman In Greece For Repairs Following Collision

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 17, 2025

The U.S. Navy has released an image showing damage to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman following the collision with the cargo ship M/V Besiktas-M off the coast of Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

Collision Damage To Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman Seen In Photo

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 14, 2025

We may have just gotten our first sight of China’s next-generation aircraft carrier, generally referred to as the Type 004. Construction work at a shipyard in Dalian, in China’s Liaoning province, reveals a module that is consistent with an aircraft carrier — which would be China’s fourth — although there remain many questions about the precise nature of the object.
Liaoning (16)

Structure At Chinese Shipyard May Point To China’s Next Aircraft Carrier’s Capabilities

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 13, 2025

Details are still emerging, but the U.S. Navy supercarrier USS Harry S. Truman has collided with a merchant vessel identified as the Besiktas-M in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt's Port Said.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman Collides With Merchant Ship (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 13, 2025

Indian drone maker NewSpace Research and Technologies has officially unveiled a new jet-powered loyal wingman-type drone called Abhimanyu.
Carriers

Indian Naval Collaborative Drone Concept Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 10, 2025

Iran has finally shown a drone taking off and landing on – in the latter case with the help of arresting gear – the deck of the country's unusual new 'drone carrier,' the Shahid Bagheri. Newly emerged imagery also shows various drones and crewed helicopters on the flight deck, which has a ski jump at the bow end, including the appearance of 'drones' styled after the infamous Qaher 313.
Carriers

Iran’s Wacky Aircraft Carrier Has Entered Service

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 6, 2025

Dual Band radar still had problems prior to USS Ford's first deployment.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

USS Gerald R. Ford Was Still Struggling With Its Dual Band Radar Prior To Deployment

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

Posted on Feb 5, 2025

An F-35C LIGHTNING II takes off from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during training with Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Jan. 22, 2022. Operating as part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, units assigned to Carl Vinson and Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Groups, America and Essex Amphibious Ready Groups, alongside JMSDF, are conducting training to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Jeremy Faller)
Nimitz Class

How Life Aboard A Navy Aircraft Carrier Changed When High-Speed Internet Arrived

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

Posted on Jan 31, 2025

U.S. Navy officials have laid out several priorities they say are key to ensuring the service's carrier air wings will be able to succeed in future conflicts, especially a high-end fight in the Pacific.
Carriers

Carrier Air Wing’s Key Priorities To Win In Future Pacific Fight Laid Out By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2025

Airbus and Navantia will explore the integration of the Sirtap drone on the LHD Juan Carlos I. Both companies have signed an agreement on board the Navy's flagship to study the possible use of the RPAS from its deck.
Carriers

Spain Wants To Convert Its Aircraft Carrier For Drone Operations

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 28, 2025

The ex-USS John F. Kennedy left Philadelphia today for a journey to a Texas scrapyard
Kitty Hawk Class

The Famed Ex-USS John F. Kennedy Casts Off On Its Final Voyage (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 17, 2025

Norfolk Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia (April 1, 1999 -- President Clinton addresses U.S. and NATO military personnel, families, and civilian Department of Defense employees to express America's thanks to personnel deployed overseas in support of U.S. and NATO operations, as well as underscore the importance of NATO Operation Allied Force in Kosovo. (U.S. Navy photo by PH1(SW) Benjamin D. Olvey)
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)

New Aircraft Carrier To Be Named After Bill Clinton

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 14, 2025

USS Jack H. Lucas
Carriers

Cost Of Navy’s Newest Arleigh Burke Destroyers Is Ballooning

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

Posted on Jan 8, 2025

The U.S. Navy is now officially using "Murder Hornet" to refer to F/A-18E/F fighters armed with five AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and four AIM-9X Sidewinder.
Carriers

Murder Hornet Nickname For F/A-18s Equipped With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles Now Official

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 6, 2025

F/A-18F Was Shot Down By Friendly Fire As Jets Were About To Land On The Carrier
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

F/A-18F Was Shot Down By Friendly Fire As Jets Were About To Land On The Carrier

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 24, 2024

PLA Navy is expanding its reach warns the DoD.
Carriers

Pentagon Warns Of China’s Increasing Capacity To Project Naval Power Far From Home

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

Posted on Dec 19, 2024

Additional photos provide a much more detailed look at the mysterious Chinese flattop that TWZ was first to report on, and which recently went to sea, apparently for its first trials. While the function of this vessel remains unknown, the recently published photos do confirm that it’s intended to operate rotary-wing aircraft (perhaps in addition to fixed-wing drones), but there are no obvious signs of catapults or arrester cables of the kind that would be used for operating heavier fixed-wing types. There is also no indication that the vessel has a floodable well-deck like those found on many amphibious warfare ships.
Carriers

Detailed Deck View Emerges Of China’s Mysterious Aircraft Carrier-Like Ship

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 2, 2024