Aircraft carriers are among the most powerful and complex ships ever built. These massive vessels act as floating airbases, enabling nations to project air power across oceans and respond to threats far from their shores. In modern naval warfare, aircraft carriers are symbols of national strength and strategic reach, often serving as the centerpiece of a navy’s fleet.
Today, there are 41 active aircraft carriers operated by thirteen different navies around the world. The United States leads with eleven active carriers, while China, the UK, India, France, Russia, and Italy each operate one or two. These ships carry dozens of fighter aircraft, helicopters, and support crews while hosting advanced radar and weapon systems.
This article explores the Top 10 Largest Aircraft Carriers in the World, ranked mainly by their full-load displacement. Each of these carriers plays a vital role in its respective navy, serving as a mobile bases that safeguard maritime interests and enhance global presence.
1. USS Gerald R. Ford Class (CVN-78) – United States
The largest aircraft carriers in the world are the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class supercarriers. The lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), entered service in 2017, and four more vessels of this class are under construction.
These ships measure about 337 meters in length, with a beam of 78 meters and a full-load displacement of around 100,000 tonnes. They carry more than 75 aircraft and can house around 4,539 personnel.
The Gerald R. Ford class introduces cutting-edge technology, including an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) and advanced arresting gear for smoother aircraft operations. They are powered by two nuclear reactors, enabling them to operate for 20–25 years without refueling.
The Gerald R. Ford mainly operates from U.S. East Coast naval bases such as Norfolk and often sails to the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and occasionally the Middle East, supporting operations in regions like the Persian Gulf and North Sea.
2. Nimitz Class – United States
Before the Ford class, the Nimitz-class supercarriers were the backbone of the U.S. Navy. There are ten Nimitz-class carriers in service, starting with the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) commissioned in 1975 and ending with the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) in 2009.
They are 332.8 meters long with a full-load displacement of around 97,000 tonnes and can carry over 60 aircraft. Each ship hosts 3,000–3,200 ship crew, 1,500 air wing staff, and 500 additional personnel.
These nuclear-powered vessels have supported missions worldwide, from the Pacific and Indian Oceans to the Persian Gulf. Major homeports include Norfolk (Atlantic), San Diego, and Bremerton (Pacific), giving the U.S. unmatched global reach.
3. Fujian (Type 003) – China
China’s Fujian (Type 003) is the country’s third and largest aircraft carrier, launched in June 2022 at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. It marks a major leap forward in Chinese naval capability.
Fujian has an estimated full-load displacement of around 80,000 tonnes, a length of 316 meters, and a beam of 76 meters. Unlike China’s earlier carriers, it uses electromagnetic catapults to launch aircraft, similar to the U.S. Ford-class carriers.
It is expected to operate primarily from naval bases on China’s eastern coast, including Shanghai and the South China Sea region, projecting power toward the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and Western Pacific.
4. Shandong (Type 001A) – China
The Shandong is China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier and the second carrier in its fleet. It was launched in April 2017 and commissioned in December 2019.
It is about 305 meters long, 75 meters wide, and has a displacement of approximately 70,000 tonnes. The ship can carry up to 44 aircraft using a STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) launch system.
Shandong primarily operates from China’s southern naval base at Sanya on Hainan Island and regularly patrols the South China Sea, supporting China’s maritime territorial claims and enhancing its naval presence in Southeast Asia.
5. Queen Elizabeth Class – United Kingdom
The UK Royal Navy operates two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers: HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. They are the largest warships ever built for the British Navy.
Each carrier measures 280 meters in length, displaces about 65,000 tonnes, and can carry up to 40 aircraft, including F-35B fighters and Merlin helicopters. They require only about 679 crew members due to extensive automation.
Based mainly at Portsmouth Naval Base, these carriers regularly operate in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indo-Pacific, strengthening the UK’s global maritime reach.
6. Admiral Kuznetsov – Russia
Russia’s only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, serves as the flagship of the Russian Navy. Originally commissioned in 1991, it has been undergoing periodic overhauls.
It measures about 305 meters long, has a beam of 72 meters, and displaces around 58,500 tonnes. It can carry up to 33 fixed-wing aircraft and 12 helicopters, including Su-33 and MiG-29K fighters.
The Admiral Kuznetsov is based at Severomorsk on Russia’s northern coast and usually operates in the Arctic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and occasionally the Syrian coast during combat deployments.
7. Liaoning – China
The Liaoning is China’s first aircraft carrier. Originally built as a Soviet Kuznetsov-class carrier, it was purchased from Ukraine and commissioned into the Chinese Navy in 2012.
It measures 304.5 meters in length, 75 meters in width, and displaces around 58,000 tonnes. Liaoning carries about 50 aircraft and primarily serves as a training and test platform for carrier operations.
It operates from Qingdao Naval Base in northern China and frequently sails in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and Western Pacific.
8. INS Vikramaditya – India
INS Vikramaditya is the Indian Navy’s largest operational warship. Originally built as a Soviet Kiev-class carrier, it was refurbished and commissioned by India in 2013.
It is 283.5 meters long, 61 meters wide, and has a displacement of 45,400 tonnes. Vikramaditya can carry about 36 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighters and Kamov helicopters.
It operates mainly from Karwar Naval Base on India’s western coast and is often deployed in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean for maritime security and power projection.
9. INS Vikrant – India
INS Vikrant is India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, was constructed at Cochin Shipyard and commissioned in September 2022. It represents a major achievement in India’s naval manufacturing capabilities.
The ship is 262 meters long, 59 meters wide, and displaces around 45,000 tonnes. It can carry up to 40 aircraft, including fighters and helicopters.
Vikrant operates from Kochi and Karwar bases and strengthen India’s presence in the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and the wider Indian Ocean region.
10. Charles de Gaulle – France
Charles de Gaulle is France’s only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and has been in service since 2001, serving as the flagship of the French Navy.
It measures 261.5 meters long and displaces around 42,500 tonnes. It can carry about 40 aircraft, including Rafale M fighters and E-2C Hawkeye early-warning aircraft.
The ship is based at Toulon on France’s Mediterranean coast and regularly operates in the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf as part of NATO and European Union missions.
Bottom Line – Largest Aircraft Carriers
The Top 10 Largest Aircraft Carriers in the World showcase the immense engineering and strategic investments made by major naval powers. These vessels are not just military assets—they represent national influence, technological progress, and global presence.
While the United States dominates with its fleet of supercarriers, China is rapidly expanding its carrier program, and India has made a significant leap with the launch of its first homebuilt carrier. As these naval giants continue to shape maritime security and global power balance, their role will remain central to the projection of national strength across the world’s oceans.
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Source: Marine Insight
