USS Nimitz soldiers on but ‘glory days are over’: Chinese analysts

The USS Nimitz, the U.S. Navy's longest-serving aircraft carrier, is facing operational challenges that signal the end of its "glory days," according to Chinese military analysts. The carrier, commissioned in 1975, has had its retirement repeatedly postponed. It was initially slated for decommissioning in 2026 but will now remain in service until March of next year. This extension aligns with the expected delivery of the second Ford-class carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the U.S. Navy's reliance on extended deployments for its carriers is a growing concern. Analysts point to a series of accidents involving the Nimitz as evidence of its operational strain. "Judging from the series of accidents that have occurred, the Nimitz is already being kept operational with difficulty," said Li Yaqiang, a former senior colonel in the Chinese navy and a military commentator, in an interview with CCTV. He added, "The glory days of the Nimitz aircraft carrier are over."

The situation reflects broader fatigue within the U.S. fleet and a decline in the country's shipbuilding capacity, according to the analysts. The extended service life of older carriers like the Nimitz highlights the challenges the U.S. Navy faces in maintaining its global presence amidst evolving geopolitical landscapes and domestic industrial limitations.

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Judging from the series of accidents that have occurred, the Nimitz is already being kept operational with difficulty. The glory days of the Nimitz aircraft carrier are over.