An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | May 1, 2023

George Washington to Replace Ronald Reagan as the Forward-deployed Carrier in Japan in 2024

Commander, Naval Air Forces

U.S. NAVY -- In coordination with the government of Japan, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) will return to U.S. 7th Fleet, replacing USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the forward-deployed Naval Forces-Japan (FDNF-J) aircraft carrier, forward-deployed to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan in 2024.

This marks the second time George Washington has served as the FDNF-J aircraft carrier, arriving in Japan in 2008 as the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be forward-deployed to Japan before being relieved by Ronald Reagan in 2015.

Prior to George Washington's return to Japan in 2024, Ronald Reagan will depart Yokosuka and relocate to Bremerton, Washington, to conduct a scheduled docking planned incremental availability period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility after completing nearly a decade of service in the Western Pacific.

More details will be announced closer to the actual movement of the carriers.

The United States values Japan's contributions to the peace, security and stability of the Indo-Asia-Pacific and its long-term commitment and hospitality in hosting forward-deployed U.S. forces. These forces, along with their counterparts in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, make up the core capabilities needed by the alliance to meet our common strategic objectives.

George Washington is currently undergoing refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding-Huntington Ingalls Industries. RCOH is a multi-year project performed only once during a carrier's 50-year service life that includes refueling the ship's two nuclear reactors, as well as significant repairs, upgrades, and modernization. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, is currently forward deployed to the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet area of operations.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
Twitter
342,728
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
PACAF RQ-4 Global Hawks Arrive at Yokota Air Base
An RQ-4 Global Hawk, assigned to the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron, 319th Operation Group, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, sits on the flightline at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 2, 2023. U.S. Pacific Air Forces began positioning RQ-4 Global Hawks at Yokota Air Base, Japan, from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on May 15 to provide theater-wide enduring operations in support of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S, Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe)
May 25, 2023 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Pacific Air Forces began positioning RQ-4 Global Hawks at Yokota Air Base, Japan, from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on May 15 to provide theater-wide enduring operations in support of...

U.S. Partnership with U.K., Australia Enhances Security
U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Ground Combat Element, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 22, establish defensive positions as MV-22 Ospreys approach for landing during an airfield seizure event as part of exercise Koolendong 22 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Curtin, WA, Australia, July 18, 2022. Exercise Koolendong 22 is a combined and joint force exercise focused on expeditionary advanced base operations conducted by U.S. Marines, U.S. Soldiers, U.S. Airmen, and Australian Defence Force personnel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cedar Barnes)
May 25, 2023 - WASHINGTON -- In September 2021, the U.S., Australia and the U.K. announced a new partnership, AUKUS, meant to strengthen alliances and security, especially in the Indo-Pacific. In March, plans for moving forward on the first...

Enduring PACE Exercise Bolsters Communications Readiness throughout South Korea
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman James Angeley, left, 607th Air Communications Squadron, radio maintenance technician, and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Carlos Perez Ortiz, right, 607 ACOMS, radio frequency transmission system technician sets up a ground multiband terminal during exercise Enduring PACE, May 18, 2023, at Osan Air Base, South Korea. Exercise Enduring PACE put communication equipment to the test and involved communications Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB, the 51st Fighter Wing, the 607th Air Operations Center at Osan AB and other communications units dispersed throughout South Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman)
May 25, 2023 - OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea -- In modern warfare, the ability to communicate rapidly and effectively can be the difference between victory and defeat. To effectively maintain Fight Tonight readiness and provide the best...

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command kicks off Large Scale Global Exercise 23
May 25, 2023 - CAMP SMITH, Hawaii -- U.S. Indo-Pacific Command will conduct Large Scale Global Exercise 23 (LSGE 23) beginning May 24 through Aug. 19, 2023. LSGE23 is a Department of Defense exercise executed by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command...

U.S. Coast Guard Post-Typhoon Mawar Update 1
Station Apra Harbor 45-foot Response Boats weather the residual storm as U.S. Coast Guard crews in Guam begin assessments and reconstitution efforts on May 25, 2023, after Typhoon Mawar devastated the island. Crews are working to resume operations and reopen the ports. (U.S. Coast Guard photo Lt. j.g. Drew Lovullo)
May 25, 2023 - SANTA RITA, Guam -- Following the devastating impact of Typhoon Mawar, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia Sector Guam, MAT/WAT Guam, and USCGC Sequoia (WLB 215) crews are actively assessing the situation and coordinating...