--- title: "Where Are The Aircraft Carriers?: August 24, 2026" date: "2026-08-24" modified: "2026-08-24" authors: - name: "Ian Ellis-Jones" job_title: "Head of Audience Development" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/ian-ellis-jones" url: "https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-august-24-2026" categories: - "Carrier Tracker" - "Carriers" - "Sea" --- # Where Are The Aircraft Carriers?: August 24, 2026 ![TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG)]() *TWZ/IAN ELLIS-JONES* The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is heading home, finally. After nine months that surely felt longer for the crew and their families and friends waiting at home, the CSG [left]() the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) over the weekend, formally ending a 200-plus-day combat deployment to the Middle East. The supercarrier was most recently transiting eastbound in the Indian Ocean, once again [operating under]() U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM). The flattop will reportedly make a port call in Thailand, according to a just-released [report]() from *USA Today* – the first and only liberty port call since deploying late last year – before continuing on to Naval Base San Diego. In *Lincoln’s* stead, USS *George Washington* has [taken up station]() in the Arabian Sea, as the Navy maintains dual-carrier coverage in theater to support the ongoing blockade of Iran. *This is 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 report [here]().* ![]() *TWZ/IAN ELLIS-JONES* The Lincoln CSG has been deployed for 277 days, as of publication, in what will shake out to be one of the longest deployments in the modern carrier era. The CSG served as the tip of the spear [during]() Operation Epic Fury, pressuring Iran’s southern axis from the northern Arabian Sea, and was instrumental in enforcing the two rounds of blockades that followed. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 launched more than 10,000 sorties and dropped over 1.5 million pounds of ordnance in support of both operations, according to a [statement]() from the acting Secretary of the Navy. ![An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Aug. 22, 2026. Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. Units assigned to 7th Fleet conduct continuous patrols to deter aggression, strengthen alliances and partnerships, and advance peace through strength. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zoe Simpson)]() *An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Aug. 22, 2026. Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zoe Simpson) Seaman Apprentice Zoe Simpson* For the vast majority of Sailors and Marines aboard the *Lincoln*, the last time they stepped on solid ground was in November 2025 when the flattop deployed. The carrier has pulled into two ports since departing last year, but they have been characterized as brief “pit stops,” and were not “liberty” calls, where the crew has the opportunity to disembark and disengage. The first, in December 2025, was [publicized]() on DVIDS when *Lincoln* spent a day in Guam; the second, lesser known and reported, took place in early July at a friendly port in the Middle East that *TWZ* will not identify for operational security purposes. During the latter stop, *CNN* reporter Pamela Brown [embarked]() for the first media embed of the war, right around the time that *Lincoln* was set to break the record for the most consecutive days at sea without a port call, which *TWZ* was among the [first to report](). It’s still unclear if the record was broken, or if the flattop pulled into port a few days before. *Lincoln* is scheduled to enter a Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) after returning home, according to budget documents reviewed by *TWZ*, and when she will return to service is unclear, as lengthy deployments tend to extend maintenance periods. You can read our recent deep-dive on the status of the four carriers undergoing availabilities, and the broader strain on the carrier fleet, [here](). ![Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) conducts routine operations while underway in the Arabian Sea, Aug. 22, 2026. George Washington is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)]() *USS George Washington conducts routine operations while underway in the Arabian Sea. (U.S. Navy photo) NAVCENT Public Affairs* ![A U.S. Navy Sailor launches an F-35C Lightning II, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway, Aug. 21, 2026. George Washington is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)]() *F-35C launches off the flight deck of USS George Washington. (U.S. Navy photo) NAVCENT Public Affairs* ![A U.S. Navy Sailor participates in a replenishment-at-sea evolution aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Arabian Sea, Aug. 22, 2026. George Washington is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)]() *Replenishment-at-sea evolution aboard USS George Washington in the Arabian Sea. (U.S. Navy photo) NAVCENT Public Affairs* USS *George Washington* has [assumed *Lincoln's* watch]() in CENTCOM, joining USS *George H.W. Bush* to “support maritime security and stability in the Middle East” as the conflict with Iran approaches the half-year mark, without a negotiated deal in sight. *Washington* is America’s only forward-deployed flattop, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, and was conducting a routine patrol in the Western Pacific before [transiting]() the Malacca Strait and steaming toward CENTCOM to relieve *Lincoln*. Prior to deploying, *Washington* completed a pierside Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) in Japan "to service critical systems and conduct repairs," the Assistant Public Affairs Officer (PAO) [told]() *TWZ* earlier this year. *The 200,000th aircraft lands aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) during night flight operations in the Indian Ocean, Aug. 18. 2026. George Washington, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, is the U.S. Navy's premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert S. Price)* *Washington* achieved a [significant aviation milestone]() just before entering the CENTCOM AOR, surpassing 200,000 fixed-wing traps. “Two hundred thousand traps is not just a number, it is a testament to the enduring strength of American naval aviation and the unmatching professionalism of the Sailors who make it possible,” the commander of CSG 5, Rear Adm. Jeffrey L. Heames, said. “This milestone reminds the world that U.S. carriers remain ready to launch and recover aircraft anywhere, anytime, in defense of freedom and our allies,” he added. *Washington*, which has been in active service for 34 years, is “capable of landing one aircraft on deck per minute, and typically lands 70 aircraft across several events throughout the day,” according to a [statement]() released by the PAO. *TWZ* reached out to *Washington’s* PAO to confirm the composition of the carrier's air wing. Here’s the current accounting: **Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5** - Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 "Argonauts" – F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (Navy-operated) - Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 "Diamondbacks" – FA-18F Super Hornets - Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 "Royal Maces" – FA-18E Super Hornets - Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 "Dambusters" – FA-18E Super Hornets - Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 "Shadowhawks" – EA-18G Growlers - Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 125 "Tigertails" – E-2D Hawkeyes - Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 "Golden Falcons" – MH-60S Seahawks - Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 "Saberhawks" – MH-60R Seahawks - Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 Det. 5 "Titans" – CMV-22B Ospreys Like *Lincoln*, *Washington* embarks a single squadron of F-35C Joint Strike Fighters, as well as three squadrons of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. However, *Washington's* F-35C squadron is operated by the Navy, while *Lincoln's* is flown by the Marine Corps. The Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) commander for CSG-5 is classified. The second carrier underway in the CENTCOM AOR, USS *George H.W. Bush*, has been deployed for more than four months and is operating at an [undisclosed location]() in the Arabian Sea. The ship was spotted on DVIDS, the military's content-sharing platform, conducting [daytime]() and [nighttime]() flight ops over the past two weeks. *Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) conducts flight operations, Aug. 18, 2026. George H.W. Bush is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy Video)* In the continental United States, two carriers are currently underway and working up off the east and west coast. USS *Dwight D. Eisenhower*, homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, got underway on August 21 and is operating 35 nautical miles off the coast with her [AIS transponder on](). USS *Carl Vinson* [departed]() San Diego on August 10 and is conducting Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA) and Final Evaluation Period (FEP). The next carrier scheduled to deploy, USS *Theodore Roosevelt*, is still pierside in San Diego, based on commercial satellite imagery. ![An EA-18G Growler, assigned to the "Gauntlets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, prepares to launch from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Aug. 14, 2026. Carl Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 1, is currently underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Lucy Fleming)]() *An EA-18G Growler, assigned to the "Gauntlets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, prepares to launch from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Aug. 14, 2026. Carl Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 1, is currently underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Lucy Fleming) Seaman Apprentice Lucy Fleming* Overall, three U.S. carriers are deployed (with one heading home), one is preparing to deploy in the near term, two are working up in various states of readiness, four are currently in maintenance, and one is being used primarily for training before deactivation next year. One amphibious ready group is deployed, one is forward-deployed, four are working up or in port, and three are in maintenance. *Note: Positions are general approximations. Non-deployed LHA/LHD amphibious warships are not shown.* Contact the author: *ian.ellis-jones@recurrent.io* ## Author Ian is the Head of Audience Development at *TWZ*. He executes our full-spectrum social media strategy, is the master of ceremonies for the incredible comments section, 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]()