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By (https://www.twz.com/authors/ian-ellis-jones) Ian Ellis-Jones      Published  Oct 17, 2026 2:35 PM EDT     (where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-october-17-2026.html#comments)    0           (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=twz.com) Add TWZ (opens Google in a new window or tab)      More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results.        (TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed CSGs and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information. Created by Ian Ellis-Jones)   TWZ/IAN ELLIS-JONES    The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (handle_newsletter_email_submission) (93f88a39ab)  (/sea/where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-october-17-2026)  (TWZInline) (0) Email address  (Enter your email) (Please enter a valid email address)  Sign Up  Thank you!      (https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy        With a flight deck packed with carrier-based aircraft, including stealthy fifth-generation F-35Cs, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/10023180/uss-theodore-roosevelt-arrives-yokosuka-japan) pulled into Yokosuka, Japan, on Friday. Roosevelt is the first non-resident U.S. carrier to visit the key naval port, strategically located on the east side of Japan, in more than four years. Yokosuka is home to the USS George Washington and America’s only forward-based Carrier Strike Group (CSG). The Roosevelt , which serves as the flagship of CSG 9, escorted by guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin and destroyer USS Decatur , completed the (https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-september-30-2026) journey from San Diego in 19 days − maneuvering around a typhoon in the Western Pacific − and will participate in the upcoming (https://www.dvidshub.net/news/577082/uss-theodore-roosevelt-arrives-yokosuka-ahead-exercise-keen-sword) combined exercise Keen Sword 27. Meanwhile, the USS George H.W. Bush (https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4623588/george-hw-bush-carrier-strike-group-departs-thailand/) departed Thailand after a five-day port call and returned to the Middle East, and the USS Abraham Lincoln (https://www.twz.com/sea/uss-abraham-lincoln-comes-home-with-its-island-superstructure-covered-in-kill-marks) arrived home after a nearly eleven-month combat deployment. In This Article   (where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-october-17-2026.html#h-theodore-roosevelt-docks-in-yokosuka-japan-first-visiting-carrier-in-four-years) Theodore Roosevelt Docks In Yokosuka, Japan; First Visiting Carrier In Four Years   (where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-october-17-2026.html#h-abraham-lincoln-s-homecoming) Abraham Lincoln’s Homecoming   (where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-october-17-2026.html#h-george-h-w-bush-leaves-thailand-and-returns-to-the-middle-east) George H.W. Bush Leaves Thailand And Returns To The Middle East   (where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-october-17-2026.html#h-f-35c-lightning-ii-operates-from-a-ford-class-carrier-for-the-first-time) F-35C Lightning II Operates from A Ford Class Carrier For The First Time   (where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-october-17-2026.html#h-big-deck-fleet-at-a-glance) Big Deck Fleet At A Glance       SHOW 2 MORE        Here’s TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed CSGs and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs), using publicly available open-source information. Check out last week’s report  (https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-october-6-2026) here  .  (Detailed graphic showing the current position of America's fleet of eleven aircraft carriers around the world, created by TWZ and Ian Ellis-Jones.)  TWZ/IAN ELLIS-JONES   Theodore Roosevelt Docks In Yokosuka, Japan; First Visiting Carrier In Four Years Roosevelt and Chosin (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/10006881/uss-theodore-roosevelt-replenishment-sea) chopped into the U.S. 7th Fleet-Pacific Command (PACOM) area of responsibility (AOR) and arrived at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (https://www.dvidshub.net/audio/94323/uss-theodore-roosevelt-arrives-yokosuka-naval-base) on the morning of October 16. The CSG will spend a few days in port before beginning participation in exercise Keen Sword, a “premier joint-bilateral field training exercise designed to increase readiness and interoperability between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. military forces,” according to the 7th Fleet (https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1018847/627-lrs-and-24-csc-conduct-c-17-refueling-certification-with-army-hemmt-b-roll-package) press release . The brief visit allows the crew to complete maintenance, resupply, and disembark for liberty before resuming routine operations. “Our crew is honored to visit Yokosuka and experience the rich culture and hospitality of Japan,” the commanding officer of Roosevelt , Capt. Will Mathis, said in the release. “Port visits like this are vital for crew morale and mission readiness, allowing our Sailors to rest, recharge, and prepare to operate seamlessly alongside our allies during exercise Keen Sword.” (Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) pulls into Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan Oct. 16, 2026. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hannah Fry))  Roosevelt arrives in Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo   (Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) arrived at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Oct. 16, 2026, ahead of exercise Keen Sword. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hannah Fry))  Roosevelt moors at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka. U.S. Navy photo    The five-ship CSG, the composition of which a Navy official (https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-september-30-2026) confirmed to TWZ , is currently operating on a disaggregated basis − a common practice employed by strike groups with multiple ongoing missions. The duo that (https://www.dvidshub.net/audio/94101/uss-theodore-roosevelt-deployment) departed the U.S. at the end of September linked up with another element of the group, Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyer USS Decatur , as they were steaming westbound past the Hawaiian Islands, based on (https://www.marinetraffic.com/) public Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. Decatur arrived in Yokosuka the day after Roosevelt but was not mentioned in the press release. USS Carl M. Levin , also stationed in Hawaii, was the first ship from the group to deploy, (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9936010/uss-carl-m-levin-departs-pearl-harbor-hawaii) according to DVIDS, the military’s content-sharing platform. Levin departed on September 9 and is operating at an undisclosed location. USS Paul Hamilton , the final ship assigned to CSG 9 to deploy, left San Diego on October 10 after onloading ammo at Bravo Pier and moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on October 15, AIS data shows. Henry J. Kaiser class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9996824/uss-theodore-roosevelt-replenishment-sea) supported the group’s transit across the Pacific, conducting multiple replenishments-at-sea (RAS), and recently entered the East Sea/Sea of Japan via the Tsugaru Strait before going dark on AIS. (Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65), pulls alongside Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), during a replenishment-at-sea Oct. 10, 2026. Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the U.S. Navy's commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cesar Nungaray))  Chosin alongside Roosevelt. Navy photo   (Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) sails in formation during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii on July 22, 2026. Thirty nations, 30 ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 190 aircraft and more than 30,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Ryan A. LeCompte))  Decatur and Roosevelt at RIMPAC. Navy photo   (Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65), left, pulls alongside Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199), middle, and Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), during a replenishment-at-sea Oct. 6, 2026. Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the U.S. Navy’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gary Buckles))  Tippecanoe conducts a RAS. Navy photo    Multiple reports indicated that medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) Seahawk (2) deployed with the group, which would represent a significant operational achievement and the first time a drone boat was assigned to a CSG, but the MUSV quietly slipped out of Point Loma on October 8, more than ten days after Roosevelt . Seahawk reappeared on AIS and docked in Hawaii for a couple days before continuing its journey westbound in the Pacific on October 16. If Seahawk is assigned to CSG 9, it is currently disaggregated, and whether it will join Roosevelt to participate in exercise Keen Sword 27 is unknown. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao seemingly confirmed the deployment, saying during a panel at the (https://www.twz.com/ausa-2026) Association of the United States Army (AUSA) convention that “the Teddy Roosevelt carrier strike group just deployed on October 8 with a medium sized unmanned surface vessel. This is the first carrier strike group to ever deploy with a large size unmanned surface vessel.” However, Roosevelt was more than halfway to Japan on the date referenced. “This is a force multiplier, imagine having more guns out there,” he added. (Seahawk, a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) prototype, departs Naval Base Point Loma, California, Aug. 6. Seahawk is a fully unmanned and autonomous vessel operated by Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron (USVRON) 1 and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific in support of technology development, testing and evaluation. The surface force is integrating unmanned vessels into the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Zahn))  MUSV Seahawk leaving Point Loma in August. U.S. Navy photo   (Graphic created by Ian Ellis-Jones and TWZ showing MUSV Seahawk's transit leaving San Diego on October 8. Reprinted with permission from MarineTraffic and KPLER.)  Seahawk’s transit out of San Diego. Source: MarineTraffic/KPLER    TWZ reached out to the Secretary’s office for clarification and to confirm the deployment but did not receive a response. “Seahawk’s operations represent continued progress in the Navy’s efforts to integrate unmanned systems into Fleet operations. As with any emerging capability, we continue to learn, adapt, and refine how these systems are employed,” a Navy official told us. Abraham Lincoln’s Homecoming Surrounded by small boats, with hundreds of spectators lining the channel in San Diego Bay and thousands more watching online, the USS Abraham Lincoln (https://www.twz.com/sea/uss-abraham-lincoln-comes-home-with-its-island-superstructure-covered-in-kill-marks) arrived home from a historic ten-and-a-half-month combat deployment. The flagship of CSG 3 and her crew of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines served as the tip of the spear in the war against the Iranian regime, first during (https://www.twz.com/news-features/iran-is-under-attack) Operation Epic Fury and then the subsequent (https://www.twz.com/news-features/naval-blockade-of-iran-now-in-full-effect) blockades , and set a new record for the most consecutive days at sea without a port call. (Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3, returns to its home port of San Diego, Oct. 10, 2026, following a 10-month deployment to U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations. An integral part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the region and provides realistic, relevant training necessary to execute our Navy’s role across the full spectrum of military operations – from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster response. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation and overflight, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron J. Rolle))  USS Abraham Lincoln pulls into San Diego Bay. U.S. Navy photo   Lincoln (https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1025951/uss-abraham-lincoln-returns-san-diego) pulled into Naval Air Station North Island and moored at Berth Lima on October 8, 321 days after (https://www.airpac.navy.mil/News/Article/4623568/uss-abraham-lincoln-cvn-72-returns-to-san-diego-after-10-month-combat-deployment/) casting off on November 21, 2025. Sailors in dress whites manned the rails as the carrier transited the bay, escorted on both sides by small boats and jet skis flying American flags, while family and friends eagerly waited pierside for their return. The video below, shared by the Pentagon, captures the moment.  Family and friends welcome the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln home. Pentagon video.  Lincoln now lays claim to the second-longest deployment in the modern carrier era, falling just five days short of the 326-day post-Vietnam (https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the-carriers-as-of-may-17-2026-ford-is-finally-home) record held by the USS Gerald R. Ford . The flattop traveled over 93,000 nautical miles during the cruise − more than four trips around the Earth, a post by the public affairs officer highlighted − and conducted 72 replenishments-at-sea, received 20-plus million gallons of aviation fuel, and flew more than 14,000 sorties that totaled 28,500 flight hours, a (https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4623232/uss-abraham-lincoln-cvn-72-returns-to-san-diego-after-10-month-combat-deployment/) press release from the Navy highlighted. The release (https://www.dvidshub.net/news/576681/uss-abraham-lincoln-cvn-72-returns-san-diego-after-10-month-combat-deployment) confirmed for the first time that Lincoln broke the previous record of 206 days set by USS Dwight D. Eisenhower  during the COVID pandemic for days spent underway between port visits, as TWZ (https://www.twz.com/sea/supercarrier-uss-abraham-lincoln-passes-200-consecutive-days-at-sea-mark) first reported . “The ship’s 208 uninterrupted days at sea between Guam and Oman, and its 286 consecutive days at sea between departing San Diego and arriving in Thailand, are record-breaking marks for modern aircraft carriers.” Lincoln’s cruise took her through both U.S. 7th Fleet and U.S. 5th Fleet AORs. During Operation Epic Fury, which (https://www.twz.com/land/army-downed-more-than-1400-iranian-missiles-and-drones-in-epic-fury-and-12-day-war) began on February 28 and lasted almost 40 days, Lincoln took up station in the northern Arabian Sea as Commander, Task Force (CTF) 50 and pressured Iran’s southern flank. When major combat operations wound down, the carrier and her air wing patrolled and enforced the blockade line during (https://www.twz.com/news-features/first-full-day-of-resumed-u-s-blockade-on-iranian-ports-erupts-in-new-attacks) both rounds that followed. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, the “Navy’s premier next-generation air wing that served as the primary offensive power” for CSG 3, flew 14,037 sorties − including 4,000 combat missions − and dropped more than 1.37 million pounds of ordnance on thousands of targets while employing 1,499 precision weapons. “This concentrated firepower significantly degraded Iranian Navy capabilities,” a (https://www.dvidshub.net/news/576750/carrier-air-wing-9-completes-10-month-combat-deployment) separate statement noted. “The rapid mobilization and combat execution of CVW-9 during Operation Epic Fury demonstrated the unmatched flexibility of a U.S. Navy carrier strike group,” Capt. J.W. Stigi, commander of CVW-9, said in the statement. “Pairing fifth-generation F-35C stealth and sensor fusion with fourth-generation workhorse strike and electronic attack platforms, Team Shogun destroyed Iran’s conventional Navy and secured vital maritime chokepoints in support of our commander’s objectives.” ()   (https://www.twz.com/sea/uss-abraham-lincoln-comes-home-with-its-island-superstructure-covered-in-kill-marks) Kill marks painted on the island superstructure show CSG 3 destroyed 106 one-way attack drones fired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), 34 Iranian Navy and IRGC ships, 23 inbound cruise missiles, and 10 enemy submarines. The strike group dropped 1,463 air-to-ground munitions in total, a Sailor explaining the marks said in a video on social media. George H.W. Bush Leaves Thailand And Returns To The Middle East The USS George H.W. Bush and her destroyer escort, USS Delbert D. Black , departed Phuket, Thailand, on October 9 after a five-day liberty visit. “Nearly 5,000 Sailors from across the strike group experienced the sights and sounds Thailand has to offer, deepening their understanding of the Thai people and strengthening interpersonal bonds,” according to a (https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4623588/george-hw-bush-carrier-strike-group-departs-thailand/) press release . (Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) departs Phuket, Thailand, Oct. 9, 2026. George H.W. Bush is conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo))  George H.W. Bush departs Phuket, Thailand, on October 9, 2026. U.S. Navy photo   “The Sailors and I had an amazing time in this beautiful country, and I sincerely thank the people of Thailand for their incredible welcome,” Capt. Justin T. Issler, the commanding officer of George H.W. Bush, said about the stop. “This port visit to Phuket was a tremendous opportunity for the crew. We are grateful to our Thai allies for hosting us, and we look forward to continuing our mission here in 7th Fleet, alongside Thailand and our other regional allies and partners.” (Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), arrives in Phuket, Thailand, Oct. 4, 2026. George H.W. Bush is conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo))  USS George H.W. Bush arrives in Thailand. U.S. Navy photo   (Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) arrives in Phuket, Thailand, Oct. 4, 2026. George H.W. Bush is conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo))  USS George H.W. Bush anchors in Phuket. U.S. Navy photo    Bush dropped anchor approximately two nautical miles south of Ao Makham Deep Sea Port (https://th.usembassy.gov/george-h-w-bush-carrier-strike-group-arrives-in-thailand/) on October 4 after 187 consecutive days at sea. After leaving Phuket, the carrier stopped broadcasting AIS while steaming due south at 10 knots. (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/10028065/uss-george-hw-bush-conducts-daily-operations) Imagery on DVIDS confirms that the CSG returned to the Middle East and operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR to “support maritime security and stability,” joining the George Washington CSG once again as the (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/10014897/uss-george-washington-conducts-routine-operations-arabian-sea) second strike group in the region. Destroyer USS Mason , which (https://www.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/Press-Releases/Article/4449573/george-h-w-bush-carrier-strike-group-departs-for-deployment/) deployed as the integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) commander for the CSG but has disaggregated at times, arrived in Singapore on October 5, likely for a port call. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer departed on October 9 and was last tracked heading northwestbound in the Malacca Strait, likely to rejoin the CSG. The other two destroyers assigned to the CSG, USS Ross and USS Donald Cook , remained in 5th Fleet during the visit. F-35C Lightning II Operates from A Ford Class Carrier For The First Time Marking a major milestone, an F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter made the (https://www.twz.com/air/f-35c-makes-first-arrested-landing-aboard-a-ford-class-carrier) first arrested landing aboard a Gerald R. Ford class carrier, the Navy’s newest and most advanced class of aircraft carriers that are being built to replace the aging Nimitz fleet. The trap was made by Lt. Cmdr. Robert Mason with the “Salty Dogs” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 aboard the future USS John F. Kennedy in the Western Atlantic on October 13. The first catapult launch followed the next day, (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/10020218/jfk-f-35c-first-launch) pictures on DVIDS showed.  F-35Cs approach for first landing aboard PCU John F. Kennedy. U.S. Navy video  VX-23, based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, is part of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division and was putting Kennedy through the ongoing Aircraft Compatibility Testing to (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/10028181/flight-operations) assess the “operational capabilities of the ship’s aircraft launch and recovery equipment.” A team from the Patuxent River-based F-35 Integrated Test Force, detached to the ship, conducted the evaluation using a specially instrumented example of the jet. One of the two pictured was externally equipped with an inert Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bomb. (An F-35C Lightning II, attached to the "Salty Dogs" of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, launches from the flight deck of Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), Oct. 14, 2026, marking the first launch of an F-35C from a Ford-class aircraft carrier. John F. Kennedy is underway conducting Aircraft Compatibility Testing, which assesses the operational capabilities of the ship's aircraft launch and recovery equipment with U.S. Navy aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Paris McKee))   (An F-35 test pilot from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23), Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), flies an F-35C Lightning II fighter aircraft to the PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) in the Western Atlantic Oct. 13, 2026. This is the first time an F-35C has landed on a Ford-class aircraft carrier. A Patuxent River F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) team detached to the ship is conducting Aircraft Compatibility Testing (ACT) with the specially instrumented carrier variant of the stealth jet. ACT assesses the operational capabilities of the ship's aircraft launch and recovery equipment with U.S. Navy aircraft.)   (U.S. Navy Cmdr. William Bowen, assigned to the “Salty Dogs” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, prepares an F-35C Lightning II for flight operations on the flight deck of Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), Oct. 14, 2026. John F. Kennedy is underway conducting Aircraft Compatibility Testing, which assesses the operational capabilities of the ship's aircraft launch and recovery equipment with U.S. Navy aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nolan Pennington))   (Two F-35 test pilots from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23), Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), fly F-35C Lightning II fighter aircraft to the PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) in the Western Atlantic Oct. 13, 2026. This is the first time an F-35C has landed on a Ford-class aircraft carrier. A Patuxent River F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) team detached to the ship is conducting Aircraft Compatibility Testing (ACT) with the specially instrumented carrier variant of the stealth jet. ACT assesses the operational capabilities of the ship's aircraft launch and recovery equipment with U.S. Navy aircraft.)  VX-23 F-35Cs flying over and on the flight deck of PCU John F. Kennedy. U.S. Navy photos    The Navy took (https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the-aircraft-carriers-october-6-2026) preliminary acceptance of Kennedy , which is still considered a Pre-Commissioning Unit, on September 29. This process allows the service to conduct at-sea testing and build underway proficiency while the shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries, completes final system checks ahead of expected delivery in spring 2027. Kennedy got underway on October 13 and returned to her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk three days later. The lead ship of the class, the USS Gerald R. Ford , does not currently embark F-35Cs and will need upgrades to field the Navy’s most advanced jet. Back in 2019, TWZ (https://www.twz.com/28367/navys-f-35c-stealth-fighters-wont-fly-from-troubled-new-ford-class-carriers-for-years) warned that the stealth jet wouldn’t fly from the troubled class for years. Because of this, Congress required that Kennedy be equipped to embark F-35Cs, which led to additional delays for the Navy’s next carrier. Big Deck Fleet At A Glance Overall, three U.S. carriers are deployed, three are working up in various states of readiness, three are in maintenance availabilities, one is post-deployment, one is being used primarily for training before deactivation next year, and another will be delivered in 2027. Two amphibious ready groups are deployed, one is forward-deployed, three 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@twz.com or @ianellisjones  (https://www.twz.com/authors/ian-ellis-jones) (Ian Ellis-Jones Avatar)   (https://www.twz.com/authors/ian-ellis-jones) Ian Ellis-Jones   Head of Audience Development and Writer    Ian executes TWZ’s full-spectrum social media strategy, brings his interpretive graphics skills to our editorial team as a Staff Writer and OSINT researcher,  and maintains the weekly  (https://www.twz.com/category/carrier-tracker) carrier tracker  and  (https://twz.beehiiv.com/) newsletter  .   (https://x.com/ianellisjones)     (https://bsky.app/profile/www.iejmedia.com)     (https://www.instagram.com/ianellis5/)       (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianellis5/)           Loading comments…  Comments couldn’t be loaded. Please refresh the page.         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