--- title: "Where Are The Aircraft Carriers: June 29, 2026" date: "2026-06-29" modified: "2026-06-29" 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-june-29-2026" categories: - "Carrier Tracker" - "Carriers" - "Sea" --- # Where Are The Aircraft Carriers: June 29, 2026 ![TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG)]() *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 report [here](). Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 embarked on USS *George Washington*, including F/A-18 Super Hornets, F-35C Lightning IIs, and an E-2D Hawkeye, participated in a [live-fire sinking exercise]() (SINKEX) during exercise Valiant Shield in the Western Pacific over the weekend. The ex-USS *Juneau*, a decommissioned Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship that was involved in both the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm, was sent to the bottom by U.S. and partner forces approximately 40 nautical miles northeast of Guam. ![]() *George Washington conducts sinking exercise during Valiant Shield 2026. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicolas Quezada* “The evolution brought together air, surface, and subsurface assets in coordinated strikes, allowing crews to sharpen critical skills in weapons employment and target engagement under realistic conditions that no simulator can fully replicate,” according to a press release from Task Force 70 Public Affairs. A torpedo fired by a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force diesel-electric submarine, JS *Jingei*, [delivered the final blow](). ![]() *Multilateral, Joint Forces execute sinking exercise during Valiant Shield 2026. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Apprentice Anthony Vilardi* A few thousand miles to the east, USS *Theodore Roosevelt*, with a packed flight deck, [arrived]() at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on June 23 ahead of the biennial exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026. The [30th iteration]() of RIMPAC is the largest ever and will feature 30 partner nations, 31 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 200 aircraft, and 30,000 personnel in and around the Hawaiian Islands. *Roosevelt* [hosted]() service members from partner nations and the local community during an open ship tour event over the weekend. ![]() *USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) arrives at Pearl Harbor. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Erik Melgar* Back in the continental United States, USS *Nimitz* joined 25 other ships for a fleet formation photo exercise (PHOTOEX) in the Atlantic Ocean on June 25 as part of the inaugural Fleet Exercise (FLEETEX) 250. FLEETEX, a large-scale [multinational maritime exercise](), includes a series of “structured multilateral training events at-sea, aimed at building cohesiveness, validating tactical procedures, and strengthening the interoperability of participating units.” Warships, aircraft, and personnel from the U.S. and 13 allied countries were involved in the two-week exercise that wrapped up today. ![]() *USS Nimitz participates in FLEETEX 250. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Johnathan McCune* *Nimitz* pulled into Mayport, Florida, the following day to disembark family and friends who were aboard for a Tiger Cruise. *Nimitz* and several other participating ships will [sail to New York City]() this week to take part in the seventh International Naval Review 250 from July 3-8. Notably, Boeing’s MQ-25A Stingray demonstrator drone was spotted on *Nimitz’s* flight deck, which you can read about in detail [here](), and the C-2A Greyhound made its [last trap]() aboard the flattop, marking the end of an era in naval aviation as the CMV-22B Osprey takes the reins for the "no fail" carrier onboard delivery mission. ![]() *MQ-25 Stingray demonstrator drone, also known as T-1, spotted embarked on the USS Nimitz. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Gina Gallia* USS *Dwight D. Eisenhower* continues working up off the east coast and was most recently underway in the Jacksonville Operating Area with her [AIS transponder turned on](). *Eisenhower* is conducting carrier qualifications and supporting East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadrons, according to [DVIDS](). On the west coast, USS *Carl Vinson* got underway for training on June 25. ![]() *IKE conducts carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Miguel Santiago* Two aircraft carriers remain on station in the Middle East: USS *Abraham Lincoln* and USS *George H.W. Bush*. Both carriers were spotted conducting [flight operations]() over the [past week]() in the U.S. Central Command-5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). With the blockade lifted while negotiations are ongoing - and both sides still exchanging weekend tit-for-tat blows - neither appears to be leaving the AOR, for now. ![]() *Abraham Lincoln conducts flight deck operations. U.S. Central Command Public Affa* *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 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]()