The USS George Washington, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has officially resumed its forward deployment in Japan after undergoing an extensive Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) that lasted almost two years.
The aircraft carrier arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base on November 22, 2024, and is now the only forward-deployed carrier in the U.S. Navy, revitalizing U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific amid rising tensions with China.
This marks the second time that the USS George Washington has held this forward-deployed status, the first being from 2008 to 2015.
However, the maritime landscape has dramatically changed since its last deployment.
When the USS George Washington was previously stationed in Yokosuka, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) was considerably smaller, with only a few operational vessels.
Now, China’s naval capabilities have significantly expanded, boasting two operational aircraft carriers, a third undergoing sea trials, and plans for a fourth.
In response to these developments, the U.S. Navy has been diligently preparing its aviators through essential flight drills on Iwo Jima, with the intent to enhance regional deterrence.
As part of their training, U.S. naval aviators assigned to the USS George Washington are conducting field carrier landing practice (FCLP) on Iwo Jima throughout May.
These drills involve repetitive “touch and go” landings at airfields, simulating the unique conditions encountered during carrier landing operations.
The Fleet Force Command described FCLP as “required flight training that precedes carrier landing operations,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining pilot proficiency for successful landings.
With a diverse air wing that includes Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multirole fighters, both stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan when not deployed aboard the carrier, the USS George Washington is poised for effective operational readiness.
Since 1989, the U.S. Navy has conducted FCLP operations on Iwo Jima, capitalizing on the island’s remote location to facilitate continuous day and night flight operations.
Although the island does not have a local population, making it suitable for such training, it is not intended as a permanent training site due to its distance from additional airfields.
In light of the strategic significance of these exercises, the Japanese Ministry of Defense emphasized the importance of these training operations in strengthening both nations’ deterrent and response capabilities in the region.
Additionally, should conditions affect operations on Iwo Jima, four other sites in Japan—Misawa Air Base, Yokota Air Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni—are available for conducting FCLP operations.
The U.S. Navy has not yet disclosed the timeline for the next deployment of the USS George Washington, though it may depart Yokosuka in the coming weeks.
In the broader context of U.S. Navy operations, the USS George Washington might also serve alongside other naval carriers in the Indo-Pacific, potentially coordinating operations with deployments to the Middle East.
The USS Nimitz and its carrier strike group have been reported operating near the Malacca Strait, but it remains unclear whether the Navy will send it to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area alongside the USS Carl Vinson, which is presently the only carrier operating in the Red Sea.
As global tensions evolve and the strategic maritime environment shifts, the USS George Washington’s renewed deployment underscores the U.S. commitment to maintaining a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific, further enhancing deterrence capabilities as China’s naval expansion continues to grow.
image source from：https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/the-aircraft-carrier-uss-george-washington-heads-for-iwo-jima
