It's always a challenge to keep a floating city equipped, but it just got earlier.
Here's What You Need to Remember: Capable of embarking both the F-35C fighter jet and the CMV-22B Osprey,
Vinson became the first aircraft carrier equipped to support fifth-generation aircraft. This month’s vertical replenishment exercise follows more than six months of successfully integrated operations between the carrier and air wing in support of the unique maintenance and tactical operations functions of the advanced aircraft.
One of the problems with operating an aircraft carrier in distant waters is that while the warship may be huge, it can only carry so many replacement parts for its air wing. On these floating cities, space is actually at a premium, and it isn’t cost-effective to carry more than what is needed for a deployment.