Nimitz-class aircraft carrier

A class of ten nuclear-powered supercarriers operated by the United States Navy, commissioned between 1975 and 2009. Each carries an embarked air wing and can operate for decades between nuclear refuelings.

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Nuclear marine propulsion: A ship propulsion system that uses a nuclear reactor to produce steam for turbines. Two reactors supply the steam that drives the carrier's propulsion and electrical systems.
USS Nimitz: The lead ship of the Nimitz class, commissioned by the United States Navy in 1975. The class takes its name from this first ship.
Operation Desert Storm: The 1991 United States-led military campaign to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Nimitz-class carriers launched aircraft during the air campaign against Iraq.
Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier: A class of United States Navy nuclear-powered supercarriers designed to succeed the Nimitz class. Its newer launch, recovery, and electrical systems mark the next generation of U.S. supercarriers.
Aircraft carrier flight deck: A shipboard deck designed for launching, recovering, and moving aircraft. Catapults and arresting gear let the carrier launch and recover aircraft within limited space.
Chester W. Nimitz: A United States Navy fleet admiral who commanded Allied forces in the Pacific during World War II. The lead ship honors the wartime commander whose name identifies the entire class.
Operation Enduring Freedom: The United States-led military operation launched in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks. Carrier aircraft supported the opening air campaign in Afghanistan.
Enterprise-class aircraft carrier: A United States Navy class represented by USS Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Its pioneering nuclear propulsion preceded the Nimitz class's larger multi-ship program.
Carrier air wing: A naval aviation organization composed of aircraft squadrons embarked aboard an aircraft carrier. Its aircraft provide the carrier's strike, defense, surveillance, and support capabilities.
Cold War: The prolonged geopolitical rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union from the late 1940s to 1991. The class was designed for sustained global naval power during this strategic rivalry.