During coverage of the closing ceremony of the Multinational Exercise UNITAS 2025 (LXVI) at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Zona Militar had the opportunity to visit the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), one of the flagship vessels of the United States Navy (US Navy). From its imposing flight deck to the complex systems that make up its operational core, the Harry S. Truman stands as one of the foremost symbols of U.S. maritime power — a pillar of American presence and projection in the Atlantic, as well as in any other theater requiring its deployment.
Currently, the aircraft carrier is stationed at its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, after returning to the United States in June 2025 following eight months of operations in Europe and the Middle East, where it actively participated in maritime security missions, patrols in the Mediterranean, and operations in the Red Sea in response to Houthi rebel attacks on commercial shipping. Its return marked the end of one of the most intense operational campaigns for its carrier strike group in recent years.
During the Multinational Exercise UNITAS 2025, the USS Harry S. Truman was once again temporarily deployed to participate in combined naval maneuvers alongside eighteen ships and two submarines from allied nations. The carrier’s integration into the PhotoEx phase symbolized Washington’s commitment to hemispheric maritime cooperation, contributing embarked air assets and specialized personnel for the coordination of multinational activities.
On the day prior to the closing of the exercise, the USS Harry S. Truman also hosted a commemorative ceremony marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy, an event that brought together senior naval leaders and veterans. A notable aspect of this occasion was the presence of the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.
Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and commissioned in 1998, the USS Harry S. Truman belongs to the Nimitz class and features dual nuclear reactors, allowing it to operate for more than two decades without refueling. Its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), includes squadrons of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35C fighters, E-2D Hawkeye early warning aircraft, and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters — providing offensive, defensive, and long-range reconnaissance capabilities.
As for the Truman’s immediate future, the carrier has been scheduled to undergo a Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) — a major refit during which its two nuclear reactors will be refueled — along with extensive maintenance and modernization work. In January 2024, a $913 million advance planning contract was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding, covering engineering, design, material procurement, and preparatory work prior to the vessel’s arrival for structural repairs and systems upgrades.
Subsequently, that effort received an additional $276.1 million contractual modification in 2025 to ensure that critical materials and components are available, with completion estimated for September 2026. According to open sources, reactor refueling is expected to begin in 2026, meaning the carrier will remain out of service for an extended period as part of its mid-life operational renewal.
This process will not only extend the Truman’s service life for several more decades but will also provide an opportunity to modernize its combat, electronic, and support systems, ensuring the ship remains a cornerstone of U.S. naval power in the 21st century.
From Norfolk, where it is currently in a maintenance and crew training phase, the Truman continues preparing for its future missions in the Atlantic and Eastern Mediterranean.
*Original text written in Spanish by Maria Victoria Pierucci
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