Navy Starts Refueling Overhaul of USS Harry S. Truman
The $5.1 billion Newport News Shipbuilding project will replace the carrier's reactor fuel and modernize its propulsion and combat systems.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Nuclear
The US Navy began the Refueling and Complex Overhaul of USS Harry S. Truman at HII Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia on September 30, 2026. The work, under a contract valued at approximately $5.1 billion, will replace reactor fuel and conduct maintenance throughout the carrier's propulsion plant.
Why it matters
Nimitz-class carriers must be refueled around the midpoint of their roughly 50-year lifespan, and the Navy says the overhaul also allows it to replace aging equipment and modernize combat systems. The Navy says RCOH accounts for roughly one-third of all maintenance and modernization a carrier receives.
The Truman, which entered service in 1998 and uses two Westinghouse A4W reactors, is slated for a roughly five-year overhaul versus the six years the George Washington required. The contract includes financial incentives intended to encourage schedule performance.
The players
USS Harry S. Truman
A Nimitz-class aircraft carrier that entered service in 1998 and is powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors.
HII Newport News Shipbuilding
The Virginia shipyard performing the Truman's Refueling and Complex Overhaul, a major builder of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
The details
Workers will access the carrier's reactor compartments to remove spent nuclear fuel and install replacement cores, while turbines, generators, piping and other machinery are inspected and refurbished. Shipbuilders will also examine the hull, repair corrosion, restore tanks and overhaul underwater components.
Timeline
November 2025: Smart Start preparation period began ahead of the overhaul.
September 30, 2026: Truman entered overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding.
2027 through 2029: Nuclear refueling, structural repairs and propulsion maintenance.
2030-31: Final outfitting, system activation and testing.
November 2031: Targeted redelivery of the Truman to the Navy.
Roadmap
Refueling is a recurring mid-life milestone for the Navy's Nimitz-class fleet, with the George Washington's six-year RCOH setting the recent benchmark. The Truman's projected five-year schedule, backed by contract incentives, would shorten that timeline.
The overhaul extends the service life of a major U.S. combat asset into the early 2030s, keeping a nuclear-powered carrier available for operations. The modernized combat systems and replaced propulsion equipment are intended to keep the ship's capabilities current.
The takeaway
Major naval refueling overhauls are long, complex projects that depend heavily on schedule discipline, which is why the Navy built financial incentives into this contract.
What happens next
Redelivery of the Truman to the Navy is targeted for November 2031, with sea trials expected in 2031.
Further reading
For broader context on reactor-powered naval vessels, explore more in the Nuclear section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 19FortyFive.
