Aircraft carrier, in simple terms, is a mobile airbase which helps a nation project its air and naval power far away from the country’s territory. In an era where countries have been acting irrationally to gain territory by use of force, aircraft carriers can be a lethal deterrent to prevent countries from taking unilateral military action. These massive sea vessels also help in securing crucial sea lanes of communication (trade routes carrying oil and other crucial goods) from disruption. So, here's a list of top 10 aircraft carriers in the world:
1. USS Gerald R. Ford USS Gerald R. Ford is named after the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford. It has been built by Newport News Shipbuilding. The displacement is about 1,00,000 tonnes (fully loaded). The length of the vessel is 333m-337m and the width of the deck is 78m. The height is around 76m (250 feet). The maximum speed is over 56kmph. It is powered by twin Bechtel A1B PWR nuclear reactors. It employs AN/SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar with a maximum detection range of over 350km. It is armed with two RIM-162 ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile) launchers, two RIM-116 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missiles), 3 Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapons System) and can carry over 75 aircrafts. It can accommodate over 4500 personnel. It was launched in 2017 and was constructed (including R&D) at around USD 17 billion.
2. USS Nimitz USS Nimitz is an aircraft carrier in service of the US Navy. It has been built by Newport News Shipbuilding. The displacement is about 1,00,020 tonnes (fully loaded). The length of the vessel is 332.8 and the width of the deck is 76.8m. The height is around 76m (250 feet). The maximum speed is over 58.3kmph. It is powered by twin Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, four steam turbines and four shafts. It employs AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar (460km detection range), AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar (474km detection range) and AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar. It is armed with two SSM (Sea Sparrow Missile) launchers, two RIM-116 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missiles), 2 Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapons System) and can carry over 90 jets and helicopters. It can accommodate over 3532 personnel. It was launched in 1975.
3. HMS Queen Elizabeth HMS Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth class of aircraft carriers in service of the Royal Navy. It was built by Aircraft Carrier Alliance at Rosyth Dockyard. The displacement is 65,000 tonnes. The length is 280m. It is powered by GE Integrated Electric Propulsion powered by twin-Rolls Royce Marine 36MW gas turbines and four-10MW diesel engines. The maximum speed in 59kmph. It boasts S1850M long range radar with a detection range of 400km. It is armed with three-Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapons System) and 4-30mm DS30M Mk2 guns. It can house 1600 personnel and 250 troops. It was commissioned in 2017. It can carry over 65 fixed-wing jets and other rotary aircrafts.
4. Liaoning 001 Liaoning 001 is an aircraft carrier which was initially introduced as a training ship and then was converted for combat role in 2019. It was initially launched as a part of the Soviet Navy as Kuznetsov-class aircraft cruiser “Riga” in 1988. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 it was sold to the Dalian naval shipyard in 1998. It was transferred to the Chinese Navy in 2002 (PLAN). PLAN commissioned it in 2012. The displacement is 43,000 tonnes. The length is 306.4m. It is powered by steam turbines which include 4-50,000 hp turbines, 9-2,011 hp turbogenerators, 6-2,011 hp diesel generators and 4-fixed pitch propellers. The maximum speed is 59kmph. It boasts Type 346 radar S-band AESA with a maximum search range of 450km. It is armed with 3- Type 1130 CIWS and 3-HQ-10. It carries a total of 40 fixed wing and rotary aircraft. It can carry 1960 personnel and 626 air groups.
5. Shandong 001A Shandong is a Chinese aircraft carrier which was the first indigenously built. It was built by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry. It was laid down in 2015 and launched in 2017. The displacement is 55,000 tonnes. The length is 305m. It is powered by conventional steam engines. The maximum speed is 57kmph. It boasts radar Type 346A S-band with a detection range of 450km. It is armed with three-Type 1130 CIWS and 3-HQ-10 (short range surface-to-air missiles). It carries 44 aircrafts in total. The vessel was commissioned by the PLAN in 2019.
6. Admiral Kuznetsov Admiral Kuznetsov is a Russian aircraft carrier serving the country’s Navy. It was built by Black Sea Shipyard. It was originally commissioned in the Soviet Navy. A sister aircraft carrier “Varyag”/ “Riga” was under construction but after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was sold off to China and now serves the PLAN as Liaoning 001. The displacement is 43,000 tonnes and the length is 305m. It is powered by four-50,000 hp steam turbines, 9-2,011 hp turbogenerators, 6-2,011 diesel generators and 4-fixed pitch propellers. The maximum speed is 54kmph. It is armed with 6-AK-630 AA guns, 8-CADS-N-1 Kashtan CIWS, 12-0-700 Granit anti-ship cruise missiles. 24-8 cell 3K95 Kinzhal surface-to-air missile. It carries around 30 fixed-wing fighter jets. It can carry 1690 personnel. It was launched in 1985 and was commissioned in 1991.
7. INS Vikrant INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier which is the first such built by India. It has been named after INS Vikrant, India’s first ever aircraft carrier. It is currently undergoing sea trials. The displacement is 45,000 tonne. The length is 262m. There are 14 decks in the carrier. It is powered by four-GE LM2500+ gas turbine. The maximum speed is 56kmph. It boasts Elta EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar which has a detection range of 300-450km. It further boasts DRDO Shakti EW suite. It is armed with 2-32 cells Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, 4-Otobreda dual purpose cannons and 4-AK-630 CIWS. It can carry 36-40 fixed wing aircrafts. The total cost of the project is around USD 3.1 billion and the ship is expected to be commissioned in the Indian Navy in August 2022.
8. Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier is the first nuclear carrier. It was commissioned as the 10th aircraft carrier in the French Navy. It was built by the Naval Group. It has a displacement of 42,500 tonnes and the length is 261.5m. The height is 66.5m. It is powered by two-Areva K15 pressurised reactors producing 150MWt each, two-Alstom steam turbines with a total of 61MW shaft power and 4-diesel-electric engines. The maximum speed is 50kmph. It is armed with four- 8 cell A-43 Sylver launchers carrying Aster surface-to-air missiles and 8- Giat 20F2 20mm cannons. It can carry 30-40 fixed wing aircrafts. It was launched in 1994 and took its maiden voyage in 2001.
9. INS Vikramaditya INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier and the flagship of the Indian Navy. It was originally built as “Baku” and served the Russian Navy. As Admiral Gorshkov. It was decommissioned in 1996 due to shortage of funds. It was bought by India for USD 2.35 billion. It was built by Balck Sea Shipyard. The displacement is 45,400 tonne. The length is 284m. It is powered by 6-turbo alternators and 6-diesel alternators. It is propelled by 8-turbo-pressurised boilers, 4-shafts, 4-geared steam turbines generating a total of 1,80,000hp. The maximum speed is 56kmph. It is armed with 4-AK-630 CIWS, 40 cell Barak-8 Long range surface-to-air missiles and Barak-1 surface-to-air missiles. It can carry a maximum of 36 fixed-wing aircrafts. It was formally inducted in the Indian Navy in 2014.
10. Cavour aircraft carrier Cavour is an Italian aircraft carrier which is the flagship of the Italian Navy. It was built by Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilding country. The displacement is 27,100 tonne. The length is 244m and the draught is 8.7m. It is powered by 4-GE Electric/Avio LM2500+ gas turbines providing 88,000 kW and 6-diesel generators producing 13,200kW. The maximum speed is 54kmph. It boasts Selex RAN-40L 3D L-band long-range radar with a detection range of 400km. It is armed with four-8 cell A-43 Sylver launchers carrying MBDA Aster surface-to-air missile, two-OTO Melara Strales guns and two-OTO Melara decoy launching systems. It can carry 20-30 fixed-wing jets. It can carry 1,202 personnel. It was launched in 2004 and was inducted in the Italian Navy in 2009.
