nuclear energy fuels contemporary American aircraft carriers, which are engineered to operate for a minimum of 50 years.
Nonetheless, the nuclear fuel system does not endure the entire span of five decades. In practice, the U.S. Navy tends to conduct refueling approximately every 25 years; however, the term “refueling” can be somewhat misleading in this context. Instead of merely substituting the nuclear elements essential for powering the vessel, the Navy typically seizes the chance to upgrade the aircraft carrier and modernize its core systems.
It might be easier to visualize the procedure as a thorough renovation of the ship’s primary systems. This procedure is known as an RCOH, or Refueling and Complex Overhaul, due to its comprehensive nature, and it may take up to six years for completion.