The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) has arrived at Newport News Shipbuilding to begin a multi-year refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH). This major maintenance period, which commenced in March 2026, will include upgrades necessary to deploy and support the fifth-generation F-35C Lightning II fighter jets.
The RCOH process, performed only once in a carrier's 50-year service life, involves refueling the ship's nuclear reactors and performing extensive modernization. Key upgrades for F-35C integration include modifications to the flight deck, weapons elevators, and combat systems to handle the advanced aircraft's stealth technology and increased data requirements.
The USS John C. Stennis is the seventh Nimitz-class carrier to undergo this transformation. The U.S. Navy has been progressively integrating the F-35C into its carrier air wings, with the USS Carl Vinson being the first to deploy with the aircraft in 2021. The overhaul is expected to keep the Stennis in service for another 25 years.
This modernization is a critical component of the Navy's effort to maintain a technologically advanced carrier fleet capable of operating alongside newer Ford-class carriers. The work underscores the ongoing shift towards fifth-generation naval aviation to address evolving global security challenges.
