Trump’s Aircraft Carrier Visit Signals a Warning to US Adversaries

When it comes to naval capabilities, no country possesses a carrier fleet that even comes close to the US Navy. With 11 active nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the US Navy’s ability to project power overseas is simply unparalleled. The majority of the service’s active supercarriers were designed as Nimitz-class ships. The USS Gerald R. Ford represents the most sophisticated carrier in the Navy’s fleet as the lead ship of the technologically superior Ford-class. While the Nimitz carriers have been sailing the seas for half a century, these massive boats remain a critical deterrent for adversaries wanting to challenge the United States. Earlier this month, President Donald J. Trump visited the flight deck of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier while underway to celebrate the service’s 250th anniversary events. Alongside the first lady, Trump viewed a firepower demonstration from F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35C Lightning II fighter jets. As later detailed by the president, “They land screaming jets on pitching decks in the dark of night with no room for error.”

The USS George H.W. Bush

The USS George H.W. Bush is the tenth and final Nimitz carrier designed for its class to sail for the Navy. Named to honor the 41st president of the United States and a former director of the CIA, the mighty carrier served honorably over its lifespan. Two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors power each ship in this class, enabling the Nimitz boats to remain underway for longer stretches of time. Perhaps most importantly, these ships can carry 90 percent more aviation fuel and 50 percent more ordnance than previous classes and can launch some of the military’s finest airframes like the Super Hornet, Lightning II, and Growler jets.

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