US Navy Nimitz aircraft carrier begins air operations with Carrier Air Wing 17 in Arabian Gulf.

According to information published by the U.S. Navy on September 22, 2020, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) began air operations with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from the Arabian Gulf September 18, 2020.
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An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the "Death Rattlers" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

The strike group’s Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 is providing close air support and defensive counter-air missions to the coalition fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

The U.S. Navy has provided aviation support to OIR, through coordination with the U.S. Air Force’s Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), since the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) was established in 2014. The last aircraft carrier to provide direct support to OIR from the Arabian Gulf was the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in late 2019.

Deployed ships and aircraft of the NIMCSG (Nimitz Carrier Strike Group) include flagship carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the nine squadrons and staff of CVW 17, staffs of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114). Destroyer Squadron 9 includes the guided-missile destroyers Arleigh Burke-class USS Hopper (DDG 70), USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Chafee (DDG 90), USS Pinckney (DDG 91) and USS Kidd (DDG 100).

The US Navy aircraft carrier Nimitz is part of Carrier Strike Group Eleven (CSG-11) with Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) embarked, with Nimitz as the flagship of the strike group and the home of the commander of Destroyer Squadron 23 including VFA-22 Strike Fighter Squadron 22 with F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter, VMFA-323 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 with F/A-18C Hornet fighter, VFA-94 Strike Fighter Squadron 94 with F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter, VFA-137 Strike Fighter Squadron 137 with F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter, VAQ-139 Electronic Attack Squadron 139 with EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, VAW-116 Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 116 with E-2C Hawkeye carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft, HSC-6 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 with MH-60S Seahawk naval helicopters, HSM-73 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 with MH-60R Seahawk naval helicopters and VRC-30 Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 (detachment) with C-2A Greyhound high-wing cargo aircraft.

The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) aircraft carrier can carry up to 90 planes including F/A-18E/F Hornets, 36 F/A-18 Hornets, four E-2C Hawkeyes and four EA-6B Prowlers fixed-wing and helicopters, including four SH-60F and two HH-60H Seahawks.