Editing Nimitz-class aircraft carrier (section)

==Future and planned replacement==
[[File:USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 4 June 2020 (200604-N-BD352-0199).JPG|thumb|Aerial view of {{USS|Harry S. Truman}} (CVN-75) alongside {{USS|Gerald R. Ford}} (CVN-78), a ship of the next [[Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier|Gerald R. Ford class]]]]

''Nimitz''-class carriers were initially designed to have a 50-year service life.<ref name="Navy.mil CVN"/> At the end of their service life, ships will be [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]]. This process will first take place on ''Nimitz'' and is estimated to cost from $750 to $900&nbsp;million. This compares with an estimated $53&nbsp;million for a conventionally powered carrier. Most of the difference in cost is attributed to the [[Ship-Submarine Recycling Program|deactivation]] of the nuclear power plants and the safe removal of radioactive material and other contaminated equipment.<ref>Stevens 1998, p. 10</ref>

A new class of carriers, the ''Gerald R. Ford'' class, is being constructed to replace previous vessels after decommissioning. Ten of these are expected, and the first has entered service as of 22 July 2017 to replace {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|2}}. Most of the rest of these new carriers are to replace the oldest ''Nimitz'' ships as they reach the end of their service lives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6712/is_24_239/ai_n29459545/ |title=CVN-77 Delivery Moved To December, Newport News on Track For January Commissioning |year=2006 |publisher=Defense Daily |access-date=23 December 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708172237/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6712/is_24_239/ai_n29459545/ |archive-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The new carriers will have a similar design to ''George H.W. Bush'' (using an almost identical hull shape) and technological and structural improvements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sb.northropgrumman.com/products/geraldrfordclass/facts/index.html |title=CVN-78 Facts |publisher=Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107055408/http://www.sb.northropgrumman.com/products/geraldrfordclass/facts/index.html |archive-date=7 January 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Navy reported in early 2022 that it was conducting a study to determine if the ''Nimitz''-class carrier lives could be extended to as long as 55 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2022/04/20/navy-could-extend-the-oldest-nimitz-class-carriers-decision-in-next-budget|title=Navy Could Extend the Oldest Nimitz-class Carriers, Decision in Next Budget|publisher=usni.org|date=20 April 2022|access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/nimitz-class-carriers-could-serve-longer-under-new-shipbuilding-plan|title=Nimitz Class Carriers Could Serve Longer Under New Shipbuilding Plan|publisher=thedrive.com|date=21 April 2022|access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref>