The United States Navy confirmed that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), a Nimitz-class—the oldest active carrier in the world—will visit Rio de Janeiro as part of Operation Southern Seas 2026.
On a mission along the coast of South America, the ship will be accompanied by the destroyer (high-speed combatant) guided-missile USS Gridley in exercises with the navies of ten countries in the region. The itinerary includes stops in Brazil, Chile, Panama and Jamaica; in the case of Rio, the schedule for the visit is still being defined.
This will be the 11th edition of Southern Seas, created in 2007 and today the United States’ principal naval cooperation exercise in the Western Hemisphere.
In addition to sea maneuvers, the operation foresees technical exchanges between military personnel and the presence of officials from partner countries aboard the Nimitz, who will be able to observe the carrier’s operations.
All About the Aircraft Carrier
From a military standpoint, the USS Nimitz is presented by the U.S. Navy as the apex of air-and-sea power projection, combining high responsiveness, great autonomy, firepower in multiple domains, and advanced command, control, and situational awareness systems on the battlefield.
The Nimitz strike group operates with Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW 17), composed of six squadrons, which employ:
- aircraft: F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and C-2A Greyhound; and
- helicopters: MH-60R/S Seahawk.
Based in San Diego, where the operation was announced on March 23, the 4th Fleet is presented by Southern Command as the principal maritime partner of the naval forces of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, with a focus on integration and regional security.
