“Pushing the ship to its maximum capabilities is meant to put a lot of pressure on the system to ensure that those systems can withstand combat-like conditions and ensures we can meet and complete our mission,” Fairweather says.

At about the same time, CVN-65 USS Enterprise, the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which had recently completed its 25th and final deployment, returned to its home port of Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled inactivation and subsequent decommissioning.

Enterprise has served in nearly every major conflict that has taken place during its history, from the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 to six deployments in support of the Vietnam War through the Cold War and the Gulf wars.

The Newport News Shipbuilding unit of Huntington Ingalls Industries is now preparing to defuel the Enterprise.

The Navy says it intends to name the third Ford-class carrier the Enterprise.