Aircraft carriers are the heart of the U.S. Navy. The deck of a carrier is literally a few acres of American territory floating around the world, projecting massive air and seagoing military might.
Carriers are expensive, with new Ford-class ships running about $13 billion, but they last about 50 years.
We visited the USS Eisenhower during a massive mine clearing effort in the Persian Gulf not too long ago.
The Ike, which is currently undergoing repairs, is the second oldest U.S. carrier still in service; but as you'll see, her age takes nothing from her powerful presence near foreign soil.
The USS Eisenhower was first deployed in 1975 and is not slated for replacement until around 2025.
The U.S. Navy currently has 10 commissioned aircraft carriers, some of which can carry upwards of 90 aircraft. Thousands of men and women serve on aircraft carriers, with 5,000 pilots and soldiers serving on the Ike at any one time. Carriers are essential to U.S. power projection around the world.
We took this picture from "Vultures Row," overlooking the flight deck as it sends F-18s on patrol over the Persian Gulf.
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