--- title: "Carrier Tracker As of April 26, 2026" date: "2026-04-26" modified: "2026-04-26" authors: - name: "Ian Ellis-Jones" job_title: "Head of Audience Development and Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/ian-ellis-jones.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/sea/carrier-tracker-as-of-april-26-2026" categories: - "Carrier Tracker" - "Carriers" - "Sea" --- # Carrier Tracker As of April 26, 2026 ![]() *IAN ELLIS-JONES/TWZ* Here’s *TWZ’s* weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information. Check out last week's map [here](). The *George H.W. Bush* CSG arrived in U.S. 5th Fleet's area of responsibility last week, becoming the third U.S. aircraft carrier operating in the Middle East. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), this is the first time since the 2003 Iraq War that the U.S. has triple-carrier coverage in the region. Outside the Gulf of Oman, the *Abraham Lincoln* CSG and *Tripoli* ARG are operating in the Arabian Sea, supporting blockade measures. The *Gerald R. Ford* CSG remains on station in the northern Red Sea, [satellite imagery]() shows. https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2048024963106410516?s=20 Combined, the three flattops represent roughly 14 acres of sovereign U.S. territory that can be positioned anywhere around the world within weeks, and embark 27 squadrons of more than 200 aircraft. The nine guided-missile destroyers are equipped with 846 VLS tubes and loaded with a mix of offensive and defensive missiles. The undersea escorts - at least three, if not more, fast-attack subs - are not highlighted in the graphic below, but provide additional VLS capacity, among many other capabilities. ![]() The *Theodore Roosevelt* CSG (TRCSG) is working up in U.S. 3rd Fleet AOR, a spokesperson [told us](). There are several notable aspects of the training, including integration with an Unmanned Surface Vessel Division (USVDIV) operating a medium USV (MDUSV) [Seahawk](), as well as the potential test of new Raytheon Coyote and Longbow Hellfire missile launchers, which *TWZ* first reported [here](). In February, Vice Adm. Brendan McLane told reporters that a medium drone would deploy alongside TRCSG later this year, [*Breaking Defense*]() reported, and the Seahawk may be set to assume that role. There has been a flurry of naval drone activity off the California coast, including the [NOMARS USX-1 *Defiant*](), based on public AIS data from [Marine Traffic](). *Roosevelt* is at the leading edge of the [Navy's "tailored force pairing" concept]() - which could include integrating naval drones into CSG operations - and Seahawk appears to be the MDUSV selected to train and potentially deploy with the group. ![]() USS *Dwight D. Eisenhower* (IKE) [completed sea trials]() on April 24, the U.S. Navy announced, following a 15-month maintenance availability. "The extensive maintenance period included critical upgrades and repairs to the ship’s combat systems, propulsion plant, and habitability spaces, ensuring IKE’s ability to be fully mission capable and ready to support global maritime operations." USS *Carl Vinson* is [undergoing scheduled maintenance](), according to photos released on April 21, while "remaining a combat-ready force dedicated to protecting and defending the United States." USS *Nimitz* is participating in [exercise Southern Seas](), and was most recently off the coast of Chile. USS *George Washington*, forward-deployed to Japan and the only U.S. carrier stationed in the Indo-Pacific, is in port. ![U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) transits the Elizabeth River, Apr. 20, 2026. Eisenhower departed Norfolk Naval Shipyard to conduct Sea Trials, which tests equipment and systems in preparation for future operations and is now in the basic phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicole Schweigert)]() *Seaman Apprentice Nicole Schweigert* ![U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducts a full power demonstration during Sea Trial in the Virginia Capes, Apr. 22, 2026. Eisenhower returned to sea and is now in the Basic Phase in the Optimized Fleet Response Plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicole Schweigert)]() *Seaman Apprentice Nicole Schweigert* ![U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducts a full power demonstration during Sea Trial in the Virginia Capes, Apr. 22, 2026. Eisenhower returned to sea and is now in the Basic Phase in the Optimized Fleet Response Plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicole Schweigert)]() *Seaman Apprentice Nicole Schweigert* ![U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducts a full power demonstration during Sea Trial in the Virginia Capes, Apr. 22, 2026. Eisenhower returned to sea and is now in the Basic Phase in the Optimized Fleet Response Plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicole Schweigert)]() *U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducts a full power demonstration during Sea Trial in the Virginia Capes, Apr. 22, 2026. Eisenhower returned to sea and is now in the Basic Phase in the Optimized Fleet Response Plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicole Schweigert) Seaman Apprentice Nicole Schweigert* Four of America's 11 carriers are currently in maintenance or have an availability scheduled this year. Three are deployed in the Middle East, one is forward-stationed in the Indo-Pacific, two are training, and one is at homeport. Delivery of the next *Ford*-class carrier, what will become the USS *John F. Kennedy*, is expected in 2027, unless there are additional delays or modifications to the program. *Note: Positions are general approximations.* *Non-deployed LHA/LHD amphibious warships are not shown.* Contact the author: *ian.ellis-jones@teamrecurrent.io* ## Author Ian is the Head of Audience Development and Writer at *TWZ*. He executes our full-spectrum social media strategy and brings his interpretive graphics skills to our editorial team as an OSINT analyst and researcher. Ian [joined]() *TWZ* in early 2026 and maintains our weekly [carrier tracker]() and [newsletter](). ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()