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A U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier’s midlife overhaul—called a Refueling and Complex Overhaul, or RCOH—refuels its reactors and renews major parts of the ship so it can serve through the second half of its planned service life. The work begins with years of planning and preparation, continues through extensive shipyard repairs and modernization, and ends with system testing and sea trials. The exact work and schedule depend on the ship.
What “overhaul” means for a U.S. nuclear carrier
RCOH is a specialized midlife overhaul for U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carriers that includes reactor refueling. It is also a broad recapitalization: while the ship is in the shipyard, teams perform extensive maintenance, repair, and modernization. The Navy places the work around the midpoint of a planned 50-year service life, preparing the ship for its remaining years. The Navy’s September 2026 announcement described Truman’s RCOH as its midlife overhaul. This process describes U.S. nuclear carriers; it should not be assumed to apply to every carrier in every navy.
How the overhaul unfolds
1. Planning and preparation before the main yard period
Preparation starts well before the major construction phase. The Navy plans the work, assesses the ship, orders long-lead materials, and prepares shipyard facilities. Depending on the ship and its work package, the crew and contractors may remove equipment and other movable items for storage, install temporary services, and clear selected spaces so shipyard work can proceed.
For USS George Washington, the Navy described early “Smart Start” work at Norfolk before the carrier moved to Newport News Shipbuilding. It included removing fuel, lubricating oil, and firefighting foam; taking out selected habitability services and decking; offloading combat-systems equipment; and setting up temporary systems and a work-control complex. These are examples from that project, not a checklist for every carrier. The Navy’s account of Stennis’ preparation also describes years of planning and assessments before the overhaul work.
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2. Reactor work and major repairs
The defining task is defueling and refueling the ship’s nuclear reactors. The work also reaches far beyond the reactor plant: teams repair or overhaul propulsion equipment and perform major work on the hull, machinery, and electrical systems. With the ship in the shipyard, crews can carry out intrusive inspections, radiological surveys, and repairs that are impractical while it is operating at sea.
3. Modernization of ship and aviation systems
An RCOH can include updates to combat systems, communications, aircraft launch and recovery equipment, and supporting services. In its report on George Washington’s completed overhaul, the Navy listed work involving the hull, shafts, propellers, rudders, tanks, valves, pumps, piping, cables, ventilation, combat systems, and aviation-support systems. Another official account cites distribution systems such as potable water, electrical power, aircraft refueling, and air conditioning. These are documented examples, not a promise that every system is replaced on every ship. The Navy’s George Washington completion report describes the scope of that ship’s work.
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4. Testing, trials, and return to service
After equipment is installed and repairs are complete, Navy and shipyard teams check that systems operate as intended. Reported milestones from Stennis’ project included propulsion-plant repairs, shore steaming, cold and hot operations, power-range testing, a total-ship test program, “fast cruise,” and sea trials. The Navy reported that George Washington’s sea trials tested the full range of operating systems and included high-speed maneuvering. Those milestones illustrate the kinds of checks involved; no single identical sequence is established for every carrier. The Stennis account and George Washington’s completion report describe these project-specific testing and trial events.
How long an RCOH takes
An RCOH takes years, but the calendar for one ship is not a universal forecast for another. In 2021, the Navy described USS John C. Stennis’ overhaul as nearly four years, or approximately 48 months. In a September 2026 announcement, the Navy said USS Harry S. Truman had departed to begin its shipyard phase and was scheduled to complete RCOH in November 2031. The Stennis duration is a reported project schedule; Truman’s date is a scheduled completion, not a completed result. Ship condition, work scope, and program execution affect schedules. The Navy’s Truman announcement gives its planned completion date.
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What the scale looks like in reported figures
| Figure | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| 50-year planned service life | The service-life context for U.S. nuclear carriers in the Navy’s September 2026 Truman announcement; RCOH is positioned around midlife. Source |
| $5.1 billion | The contract value announced by the U.S. Navy in 2026 for USS Harry S. Truman’s RCOH. It is not a standard price for all carrier overhauls. Source |
| 26 million man-hours | The work total reported for George Washington’s completed RCOH by Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs in 2023; it is a figure for that ship’s project. Source |
| Nearly four years (approximately 48 months) | The Navy’s 2021 description of the USS John C. Stennis overhaul schedule. Source |
| November 2031 | The scheduled completion date for Truman’s RCOH in the Navy’s September 2026 announcement; it is a plan, not a reported completion. Source |
The Navy said Truman would be the eighth Nimitz-class carrier to undergo RCOH at Newport News Shipbuilding. That announcement also provides the ship-specific contract and schedule information above.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who carries out the work?
An RCOH is a coordinated effort involving the ship’s crew, the Navy, the shipyard workforce, and contractors. Preparation, construction, and testing require the ship’s force and shore-based teams to work across many systems and work areas. The Navy’s reports on Stennis’ preparation and George Washington’s completed overhaul describe this collaboration, though they are not independent audits of every cost or schedule figure.
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