U.S. Navy deploys USS George H. W. Bush aircraft carrier toward Iran

A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier appears to have been operating north of Madagascar en route to the Arabian Sea after an onboard aircraft transmitted its position, according to open-source flight tracking data.

Data from Flightradar24 shows a Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Osprey with the callsign “CHOSEN2” flying near the Comoros Islands earlier in the day. The aircraft, identified by registration number 169470, was listed as operating at an altitude of about 8,500 feet and a ground speed of roughly 470 kilometers per hour. The CMV-22B is a carrier-based logistics aircraft used by the U.S. Navy to transport personnel, mail, and cargo between shore bases and aircraft carriers at sea.

The appearance of the aircraft on public tracking services provided a rare clue about the location of its host ship. Open-source analyst accounts, including MenchOsint, assessed that the aircraft originated from the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), placing the carrier group north of Madagascar and moving toward the Arabian Sea. The flight path and location align with a transit route commonly used by naval forces moving between the southern Indian Ocean and operational areas in the Middle East.

No official statement has been issued by the U.S. Department of War regarding the carrier’s current position or mission. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and their accompanying strike groups typically operate under strict emissions control, limiting detectable signals such as radar and communications to reduce the risk of detection. However, aircraft operating from these ships may occasionally transmit Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) signals, which can be picked up by civilian flight tracking networks.

The CMV-22B Osprey plays a key role in carrier operations. Unlike traditional fixed-wing carrier onboard delivery aircraft, the tiltrotor platform can take off and land vertically like a helicopter while cruising at higher speeds similar to an airplane. This allows it to operate from both aircraft carriers and smaller vessels, as well as austere or forward locations on land. The aircraft is used to move critical cargo, spare parts, and personnel, extending the logistical reach of carrier strike groups.

The transmission of the CHOSEN2 flight provided enough data for observers to infer the likely presence of a carrier in the area. While the aircraft itself does not confirm the carrier’s exact position, its proximity to the Comoros Islands and its role within carrier logistics operations make it a strong indicator of nearby naval activity.

A similar situation occurred previously involving another U.S. Navy carrier strike group. In that case, a CMV-22B Osprey operating with the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) transmitted its position while flying over the Arabian Sea, effectively revealing the general location of the carrier. These incidents highlight how modern open-source intelligence tools can expose movements that were once difficult to track without dedicated military sensors.

The reported presence of USS George H. W. Bush would represent a notable increase in U.S. naval activity in the region. According to the open-source assessment cited alongside the flight data, this could be the third U.S. aircraft carrier deployed in or moving toward the broader Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea area, or closer to Iran.