Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group to Depart for Middle East on Monday in First NIFC-CA Deployment - USNI News: The Navy’s most technologically capable carrier, cruiser and destroyer are shipping out for a Middle East deployment on Monday, according to a release from Fleet Forces Command.
The departure of Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CSG) from Naval Station Norfolk, Va. and Naval Station Mayport, Fla. will mark the first deployment of a Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air—or NIFC-CA (pronounced: nif-kah) capable CSG.
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) and a squadron of Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye maritime surveillance aircraft form the backbone of the capability that creates a network of sensors and shooters the service promises to greatly extend the lethal range of the CSG.
The Navy declared an initial operational capability (IOC) for the E-2s late last year.
