The United States could face a shortage of operational aircraft carriers if the current pace of deployments continues, The Economist warns.

According to the publication, the strain stems from prolonged missions that are accelerating wear on the ships while also taking a toll on crew morale. Although the U. S. Navy fields 11 large aircraft carriers, only a portion of them can be deployed at any given time.

Analysts suggest that the current tempo may lead to intermittent gaps in carrier availability over the next two to three years, leaving Washington unable to project naval power in certain regions when needed.

The issue has been underscored by a recent incident involving the USS Gerald R. Ford. On March 12, a fire broke out aboard the Navy’s newest carrier, forcing it to divert to Crete for repairs. By that point, the ship had already spent nearly 270 days at sea and could set a new record for deployment length in April, surpassing figures last seen during the Vietnam War.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is currently involved in the military operation against Iran alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln. Another carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, is already en route to reinforce the group.

Earlier reports indicated that U. S. Navy command had been forced to urgently revise carrier deployment schedules in response to mounting operational pressure.