MIAMI, — June 14, 2026 : The U.S. Navy’s oldest active aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), is currently operating near Cuban waters in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region as part of U.S. Southern Command’s Southern Seas 2026 deployment.
Despite nearing retirement, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier remains fully mission-capable, carrying its full complement of combat aircraft and munitions while conducting routine operations. The deployment is focused on strengthening maritime partnerships, interoperability, and security cooperation with nations across the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
The carrier recently conducted port visits and regional engagements in Panama, Guyana, Suriname, and Jamaica. It is operating alongside the guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101) and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Patuxent (T-AO-201) as part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.
Service Life Extended Until 2027
Commissioned in 1975, USS Nimitz was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2026. However, the U.S. Navy extended the carrier’s service life until March 2027 to help maintain carrier availability while newer Ford-class aircraft carriers continue entering service.
USS Nimitz departed Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, in March 2026 and transited the Strait of Magellan in late April before entering the U.S. Fourth Fleet area of responsibility.
Full Air Wing Remains Embarked
The carrier continues to operate with Carrier Air Wing 17, which includes approximately 70 aircraft, including F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2D Hawkeyes, and MH-60 Seahawks.
U.S. military officials have stated that the carrier remains fully operational and capable of supporting flight operations, maritime security missions, and regional engagement activities.
Operations Near Cuba
USS Nimitz's presence north of Cuba comes as the U.S. military continues intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities in the region, including flights by P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and MQ-4C Triton drones.
Regional governments have emphasized that the deployment is a routine operation. Following the carrier’s recent port visit to Kingston, Jamaica, Jamaican officials stated that Southern Seas 2026 is an established program focused on maritime cooperation, interoperability, and regional security.
As it continues operations in the Caribbean, USS Nimitz remains one of the U.S. Navy’s key deployed assets during the final months of its nearly five decades of service before its planned retirement in 2027.
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