Aircraft carriers are typically in operation for 50 years, but they have to go through intense maintenance at the halfway point of their lifespan.
Aircraft carriers are important for executing military missions during wartime and maintaining stability during peacetime. Like every ship on the water, though, they have a shelf life. Aircraft carriers stay in service for around 50 years, but they do have to undergo a series of checks at the midway point of their lifespan to ensure they can make it through the rest of service without issue. This process is called Refueling and Complex Overhaul, or RCOH, and can take up to four years.
The process involves refueling nuclear reactors, addressing maintenance issues, and upgrading weapons. In fact, RCOH is so important that aircraft carriers cannot be retired until they complete it. Out of the 11 U.S. aircraft carriers in service, six have already finished RCOH, meaning they are in the second half of their lifespan.
