U.S. Deploys Rare Dual Aircraft Carriers to Strike Iranian Targets in Operation Epic Fury.

The United States has deployed the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln alongside a Gerald R. Ford-class carrier in the U.S. Central Command theater for Operation Epic Fury. The rare dual-carrier deployment comes as U.S. and Israeli forces conduct strikes on Iranian targets and Tehran responds with ballistic missiles and drones, sharply elevating regional escalation risks.

The U.S. Navy has positioned the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln alongside a Gerald R. Ford-class carrier in support of Operation Epic Fury, marking an uncommon dual-carrier deployment within U.S. Central Command. Operating two large-deck carriers from different generations significantly expands sortie generation rates, electronic warfare reach, and layered air and missile defense across the theater. The move brings together the combat-proven Nimitz design, capable of launching more than 60 aircraft, with the Ford-class platform, which features the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and advanced radar such as the Dual Band Radar variant.
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An F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-41 lands aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) during Operation Epic Fury, February 28, 2026. (Picture source: US DoD)

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier, is conducting sustained flight operations under Operation Epic Fury as part of CENTCOM’s campaign targeting Iranian missile infrastructure, drone launch networks, air defense systems, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command elements. Operating alongside it is a Gerald R. Ford-class carrier, the newest generation of U.S. supercarrier designed to deliver higher sortie rates, improved survivability, and reduced lifecycle manpower requirements. Concentrating both a legacy Nimitz platform and a next-generation Ford-class ship in the same theater represents a deliberate force posture decision, given the Navy’s limited inventory of 11 carriers and the constant demands of maintenance cycles and global commitments.

Dual-carrier deployments to the Middle East are uncommon. Standard rotational presence typically involves one carrier strike group assigned to the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. Bringing both a Nimitz-class and a Ford-class carrier together reflects the requirement for expanded operational endurance and sustained air tasking capacity. It also demonstrates the Navy’s ability to integrate different carrier classes into a unified strike architecture.

A Nimitz-class carrier displaces roughly 100,000 tons and uses steam catapults to launch aircraft, while the Ford-class introduces the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear, enabling smoother launches, higher sortie generation potential, and reduced stress on airframes. The Ford-class is designed to generate up to 30 percent more sorties per day compared to Nimitz-class carriers under high-intensity operations. When operating together, the two flight decks can theoretically sustain well over 120 tactical sorties per day, depending on mission requirements.

Both carriers embark air wings composed primarily of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets for strike and air superiority missions, EA-18G Growlers for electronic attack, E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes for airborne command and control, and MH-60 helicopters for anti-submarine and surface warfare. Depending on the air wing configuration, F-35C Lightning II aircraft may also be integrated, adding fifth-generation sensor fusion and low-observable penetration capability. The presence of two carriers allows for parallel strike cycles, continuous combat air patrols, and broader electronic suppression coverage across contested airspace.

This posture provides redundancy and flexibility. One carrier can focus on deep inland strike missions while the other sustains defensive counter-air patrols and maritime security operations. The combined escort forces, including Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers, strengthen ballistic missile defense coverage and sea control in critical waterways within the CENTCOM theater. The distributed positioning of two carrier strike groups complicates adversary targeting while enhancing survivability through layered defense.

The pairing of a Nimitz-class and a Ford-class carrier also carries industrial and doctrinal significance. It demonstrates that the Navy’s newest carrier design is fully integrated into frontline operational planning alongside legacy platforms. The Ford-class was engineered to reduce long-term operating costs while increasing combat output, and its deployment in a high-tempo operation validates its role in sustained combat scenarios rather than limited peacetime presence missions.

As Operation Epic Fury continues, the simultaneous deployment of USS Abraham Lincoln and a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier stands out as a rare but powerful concentration of U.S. naval airpower. It underscores the Navy’s capacity to combine legacy endurance with next-generation launch technology, delivering sustained multi-domain effects from the sea while reinforcing CENTCOM’s operational depth and mission continuity.