Aircraft carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship that acts like a floating airbase. It has a long flight deck and a hangar to hold and launch shipborne aircraft. It is usually the biggest ship in a group and lets a naval force use air power far away from home, without needing airfields nearby. Since the early 1900s, aircraft carriers have grown from small wooden ships to huge nuclear-powered vessels. They carry many types of planes, such as fighters, strike aircraft, and military helicopters.

Aircraft carriers are very important in modern naval warfare. They can travel far from any coast, giving countries power over the oceans without needing permission from other nations. Because of this, they play a big role in international relations. Since World War II, aircraft carriers have taken the place of big battleships as the main ships in a fleet.

As of April 2026, fifty navies around the world have aircraft carriers. The United States has the largest group, with eleven big nuclear-powered carriers. Other countries such as China, the United Kingdom, India, and France also have their own aircraft carriers. This shows how important these ships are today.

Types of carriers

Aircraft carriers are very fast and large ships. They carry many airplanes far away from home. They help with many jobs, like defending ships, helping in emergencies, and attacking from the sea.

There are several types of aircraft carriers. Fleet carriers are the largest and fastest. They work with the main group of ships. Escort carriers are smaller and slower. They protect groups of ships traveling together. Light aircraft carriers are smaller but fast enough to stay with the main fleet. Other types include amphibious assault ships, which help soldiers land on enemy shores, and helicopter carriers, which only carry helicopters. Some carriers use special methods to help airplanes take off and land, such as catapults and barriers.

Today, the biggest aircraft carriers are called "supercarriers". These are very large ships with advanced technology. The largest supercarrier in service is the USS Gerald R. Ford from the United States.

History

Main articles: History of the aircraft carrier and Timeline for aircraft carrier service

The idea of aircraft carriers started when airplanes were invented. In 1910, a pilot named Eugene Burton Ely took off from a ship’s deck and later landed on another ship. These flights proved that ships could help airplanes, which changed naval warfare forever.

During World War II, aircraft carriers became very important. They let navies attack from far away without needing airfields near their targets. Famous battles showed how powerful carriers were, like the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Doolittle Raid over Japan. After the war, carriers became larger and more advanced, with some now using nuclear power. Today, aircraft carriers are important parts of navies all over the world.

Description

Aircraft carriers are big ships that act like floating airports. They carry many airplanes and helicopters, so navies can use them far away from home. The top part of the carrier, called the flight deck, is where planes take off and land. Most carriers also have a smaller island on the side where the crew controls the ship and manages the airplanes.

Different kinds of aircraft carriers use different ways to help planes take off. Some use strong catapults to push planes into the air, while others use special ramps called ski-jumps or let planes take off straight up. After landing, planes either catch special wires on the deck to stop fast, or if they can land straight up, they just hover and touch down. The design of the flight deck and the types of planes depend on what the carrier is used for and which navy it belongs to.

National fleets

See also: List of aircraft carriers by country and List of aircraft carriers in service

The US Navy has the largest fleet of aircraft carriers in the world, with eleven supercarriers in service as of 2024. China has one CATOBAR carrier and two STOBAR carriers in service. India has two STOBAR carriers in service. The UK has two STOVL carriers in service. The navies of France and Russia each operate a single medium-sized carrier. The US also has nine similarly sized Amphibious Warfare Ships. There are five small light carriers in use capable of operating both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters; Japan and Italy each operate two, and Spain one.

Additionally there are nineteen small carriers which only operate helicopters serving the navies of several countries around the world.

Algeria

Current

Kalaat Béni Abbès is an amphibious transport dock of the Algerian National Navy with two deck-landing spots for helicopters.

Australia

Current

The Royal Australian Navy operates two Canberra-class landing helicopter docks. The two-ship class, based on the Spanish vessel Juan Carlos I and built by Navantia and BAE Systems Australia, represents the largest ships ever built for the Royal Australian Navy.

HMAS Canberra underwent sea trials in late 2013 and was commissioned in 2014. Her sister ship, HMAS Adelaide, was commissioned in December 2015. The Australian ships retain the ski-ramp from the Juan Carlos I design, although the RAN has not acquired carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft.

Brazil

Current

In December 2017, the Brazilian Navy confirmed the purchase of HMS Ocean for £84.6 million and renamed her Atlântico. The ship was decommissioned from Royal Navy service in March 2018. The Brazilian Navy commissioned the carrier on 29 June 2018 in the United Kingdom. After undertaking a period of maintenance in the UK, the ship travelled to its new home port, Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro (AMRJ) to be fully operational by 2020. The ship displaces 21,578 tonnes, is 203.43 meters long and has a range of 8,000 nautical miles.

China

Current

Two STOBAR carriers:

• Liaoning was originally built as the uncompleted Soviet Kuznetsov-class carrier Varyag and was later purchased as a hulk from Ukraine in 1998 on the pretext of commercial use as a floating casino, then towed to China for rebuild and completion. Liaoning was commissioned on 25 September 2012 and began service for testing and training. In November 2012, Liaoning launched and recovered Shenyang J-15 naval fighter aircraft for the first time. After a refit in January 2019, she was assigned to the North Sea Fleet, a change from her previous role as a training ship.
• Shandong was launched on 26 April 2017, the first to be built domestically based on an improved Kuznetsov-class design. Shandong started sea trials on 23 April 2018, and entered service in December 2019.

One CATOBAR carrier:

• Fujian is a conventionally-powered CATOBAR carrier that was under construction between 2015 and 2016 before being completed in June 2022. She was commissioned on 5 November 2025 at the Sanya Naval Base.

Four LHD amphibious assault ships

• A Type 075 LHD, Hainan was commissioned on 23 April 2021 at the South Sea Fleet naval base in Sanya. A second ship, Guangxi, was commissioned on 26 December 2021 and a third ship, Anhui, was commissioned in October 2022.

Future

China has had a long-term plan to operate six large aircraft carriers with two carriers per fleet.

China is planning a class of eight LHD vessels, the Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen-class landing helicopter assault). This is a class of amphibious assault ship under construction by the Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding company. The first ship was commissioned in April 2021. China is also planning a modified class of the same concept, the Type 076 landing helicopter dock, that will be equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system and will likely support launching unmanned combat aerial vehicles.

Egypt

Current

Egypt signed a contract with French shipbuilder DCNS to buy two Mistral-class helicopter carriers for approximately 950 million euros. The two ships were originally to be sold to Russia, but the deal was cancelled by France due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

On 2 June 2016, Egypt received the first of two helicopter carriers acquired in October 2015, the landing helicopter dock Gamal Abdel Nasser. On 16 September 2016, DCNS delivered the second of two helicopter carriers, the landing helicopter dock Anwar El Sadat which also participated in a joint military exercise with the French Navy before arriving at her home port of Alexandria.

France

Current

The French Navy operates the 42,000-tonne nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle. Commissioned in 2001, she is the flagship of the French Navy. The ship carries a complement of Dassault Rafale M and E-2C Hawkeye aircraft, EC725 Caracal and AS532 Cougar helicopters for combat search and rescue, as well as modern electronics and Aster missiles. She is a CATOBAR-type carrier that uses two 75 m C13-3 steam catapults of a shorter version of the catapult system installed on the US Nimitz-class carriers, one catapult at the bow and one across the front of the landing area. In addition, the French Navy operates three Mistral-class landing helicopter docks.

India

Current

Two STOBAR carriers:

INS Vikramaditya, 45,400 tonnes, modified Kiev class. The carrier was purchased by India on 20 January 2004 after years of negotiations at a final price of $2.35 billion. The ship successfully completed her sea trials in July 2013 and aviation trials in September 2013. She was formally commissioned on 16 November 2013 at a ceremony held at Severodvinsk, Russia.

INS Vikrant, also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 (IAC-1) a 45,000-tonne, 262-metre-long aircraft carrier whose keel was laid in 2009. The new carrier will operate MiG-29K and naval HAL Tejas aircraft. The ship is powered by gas-turbines and deploys 10 helicopters and 30 aircraft. The ship was launched in 2013, sea-trials began in August 2021 and was commissioned on 2 September 2022.

Future

India has plans for a third carrier, INS Vishal, also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 2 (IAC-2) with a displacement of over 65,000 tonnes and is planned with a CATOBAR system to launch and recover heavier aircraft.

Italy

Current

One STOVL carrier:

• Cavour: 30,000-tonne Italian STOVL carrier designed and built with secondary amphibious assault facilities, commissioned in 2008.

One LHD Amphibious Assault Ship:

• Trieste: 38,000-tonne Italian LHD designed to replace Giuseppe Garibaldi with the capability to operate F-35s.

Iran

Current

On February 6, 2025, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) accepted the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, a 41,978-tonne drone UAV carrier converted from a container ship.

Japan

Current

• Two Izumo-class multi-purpose destroyers – 250-metre-long, 19,500-tonne STOVL carrier Izumo was launched August 2013 and commissioned March 2015. Izumo's sister ship, Kaga, was commissioned in 2017.

In December 2018, the Japanese Cabinet gave approval to convert both Izumo-class destroyers into aircraft carriers for F-35B STOVL operations. The conversion of Izumo was underway as of mid-2020. The modification of maritime escort vessels is to "increase operational flexibility" and enhance Pacific air defense.

• Two Hyūga-class helicopter destroyers – 19,000-tonne anti-submarine warfare carriers with enhanced command-and-control capabilities allowing them to serve as fleet flagships.

Qatar

Current

• Qatari amphibious transport dock Al Fulk

Russia

Current

One STOBAR carrier: Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov: 55,000-tonne Kuznetsov-class STOBAR aircraft carrier. Launched in 1985 as Tbilisi, renamed and operational from 1995. Without catapults she can launch and recover lightly fueled naval fighters for air defense or anti-ship missions but not heavy conventional bombing strikes. Officially designated an aircraft carrying cruiser, she is unique in carrying a heavy cruiser's complement of defensive weapons and large P-700 Granit offensive missiles.

South Korea

Current

Two Dokdo-class 18,860-tonne full deck amphibious assault ships with hospital and well deck and facilities to serve as fleet flagships.

Spain

Current

Juan Carlos I: a 27,000-tonne, specially designed multipurpose strategic projection ship which can operate as an amphibious assault ship and as an aircraft carrier. Juan Carlos I has full facilities for both functions including a ski jump for STOVL operations, is equipped with the AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft. She also features a well deck and a vehicle storage area which can be used as additional hangar space. The vessel was launched in 2008 and commissioned on 30 September 2010.

Thailand

Current

One offshore helicopter support ship: HTMS Chakri Naruebet helicopter carrier: 11,400-tonne STOVL carrier based on Spanish Príncipe de Asturias design. Commissioned in 1997.

Turkey

Current

TCG Anadolu is a 27,079-tonne amphibious assault ship (LHD) (outfitted as drone carrier) of the Turkish Navy that can be configured as a 24,660-tonne V/STOL aircraft carrier. Construction began on 30 April 2016 by Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. at their Istanbul shipyard. TCG Anadolu was commissioned with a ceremony on 10 April 2023.

The Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk and the Bell AH-1 SuperCobra are the two main types of helicopters used on TCG Anadolu, with the occasional use of CH-47F Chinook helicopters of the Turkish Army during military exercises and operations.

Future

Main article: MUGEM-class aircraft carrier

On 3 January 2024, the Turkish government approved the plan for the design and construction of a larger aircraft carrier, named the MUGEM-class.

United Kingdom

Current

Two 80,600-tonne (est. full load) Queen Elizabeth-class STOVL carriers which operate the F-35 Lightning II. HMS Queen Elizabeth was commissioned in December 2017 and HMS Prince of Wales in December 2019.

Queen Elizabeth undertook her first operational deployment in 2021. Each Queen Elizabeth-class ship is able to operate around 40 aircraft during peacetime operations and is thought to be able to carry up to 72 at maximum capacity. As of the end of April 2020, 18 F-35B aircraft had been delivered to the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. They form the central part of the UK Carrier Strike Group. The Queen Elizabeth-class ships are expected to have service lives of 50 years.

United States

Current

Eleven CATOBAR carriers, all nuclear-powered:

• Nimitz class: ten 101,000-tonne, 333-meter-long fleet carriers, the first of which was commissioned in 1975. A Nimitz-class carrier is powered by two nuclear reactors providing steam to four steam turbines.
• Gerald R. Ford class, one 100,000-tonne, 337-meter-long fleet carrier. The lead of the class Gerald R. Ford came into service in 2017, with another nine planned to replace the aging Nimitz-class ships.

Nine amphibious assault ships carrying vehicles, Marine fighters, attack and transport helicopters, and landing craft with STOVL fighters for Close Air Support (CAS) and Combat Air Patrol (CAP):

• America class: a class of 45,000-tonne amphibious assault ships, although the first two ships in this class, (Flight 0) do not have well decks, all subsequent ships (Flight I) are to have well decks. Two ships are currently in service out of a planned 11 ships. Ships of this class can have a secondary mission as a light aircraft carrier with 20 AV-8B Harrier II, and in the future the F-35B Lightning II aircraft after unloading their Marine expeditionary unit.
• Wasp class: a class of 41,000-tonne amphibious assault ships, members of this class have been used in wartime in their secondary mission as light carriers with 20 to 25 AV-8Bs after unloading their Marine expeditionary unit. Seven ship currently in service of an original eight.

Aircraft carriers in preservation

Some aircraft carriers have been saved as museum ships where people can visit and learn about their history. These include the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the USS Intrepid (CV-11) in New York City, the USS Hornet (CV-12) in Alameda, California, the USS Lexington (CV-16) in Corpus Christi, Texas, and the USS Midway (CV-41) in San Diego, California.

Other carriers like the INS Vikrant (1961) in Mumbai and the USS Cabot (CVL-28) in New Orleans were planned to be museums but were later closed or scrapped. The USS Tarawa (LHA-1) was also planned to become a museum but was sunk during a naval exercise in 2024.

Popular culture

Aircraft carriers are shown in many exciting movies. Films like Midway (2019) and The Final Countdown (1980) feature carriers, with the famous USS Nimitz playing a big role. The original Midway from 1976 and movies such as Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick also show these powerful ships. The Japanese carriers from the attack on Pearl Harbor appear in Tora! Tora! Tora! and the 2001 film Pearl Harbor. More recent films like Battleship and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning also have scenes with aircraft carriers such as the USS Ronald Reagan and USS George Bush. A documentary called City of Steel: Carrier from 2000 follows the building and launch of the USS Harry Truman.