USS George Washington conducts PACFIRE in Pacific tests Phalanx CIWS on simulated targets.

According to information published by the US DoD on October 23, 2024, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) conducted a pre-aim calibration fire (PACFIRE).
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US Navy's Phalanx Close In Weapon System on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington. (Picture source: US DoD)

For defense, the ship is outfitted with several missile and close-in weapon systems. It carries two NATO RIM-7 Sea Sparrow launchers, which provide defense against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. Additionally, the carrier has two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) systems, a highly effective system for close-range defense against incoming missiles. Complementing these are three Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon Systems), which are rapid-fire guns that offer the final layer of defense by intercepting incoming threats at close range.

The USS George Washington (CVN-73) has been through a significant and eventful period from 2022 to 2024, following an extended maintenance phase and a return to active deployment. In 2017, the carrier entered an extensive Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), which is a critical mid-life procedure for nuclear-powered carriers.

Originally expected to last four years, the RCOH was delayed due to various issues, including supply chain disruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing completion to May 2023. This overhaul extended the carrier's service life and upgraded it to support newer technologies, including the F-35C fighter jet.

After completing RCOH in May 2023, the George Washington conducted sea trials and pre-deployment certifications. In April 2024, it embarked on a deployment as part of the U.S. Navy’s Southern Seas 2024 exercise, sailing around South America and engaging in joint exercises with several Latin American navies.

This operation was part of the carrier’s transition back into forward-deployed service in the Indo-Pacific. By October 2024, the carrier began its final transit to Yokosuka, Japan, where it will replace USS Ronald Reagan as the forward-deployed naval forces carrier for the U.S. 7th Fleet. This marks the second time the George Washington has served in this role, having previously been stationed in Japan from 2008 to 2015.