Top 5 aircraft carriers in the world
Aircraft carriers are always the pride of the navies of the countries that own them because of their comprehensiveness and usefulness in warfare at sea.
China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier. Photo: Xinhua.
Known as floating air bases, these massive aircraft carriers are equipped with long flight decks for launching and recovering aircraft. Serving as the capital ships of naval fleets at sea, they can carry a variety of aircraft including fighters, attack aircraft and helicopters.
Today, most of the world’s major powers are operating or building aircraft carriers with advanced technology to protect their maritime rights and interests. There are a total of 41 aircraft carriers in operation in 13 navies around the world. Here is a list of the top 5 aircraft carriers in the world as ranked by marineinsight.com.
5. China ‘s Liaoning aircraft carrier
The Liaoning is the only active aircraft carrier of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the fifth largest aircraft carrier in the world. It was originally designed to be the second Kuznetsov for the Soviet Navy but it was acquired by China after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Liaoning aircraft carrier, China. Photo: Xinhua
The ship was re-built and commissioned into the PLAN in September 2012. Liaoning is now classified as a training ship, providing a platform for the navy to test, train and familiarize itself with aircraft carrier operations. With a displacement of more than 58,000 tonnes at full load, Liaoning is capable of carrying around 50 aircraft, including fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
4. Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, Russia
Russia’s Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier is one of the best aircraft carriers in service. Currently serving as the flagship of the Russian Navy, the 305m long aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov has a full load displacement of 58,500 tons. As a multi-functional aircraft carrier, this ship, in addition to its role as an aircraft carrier, is also equipped with weapons capable of causing death.
Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, Russia. Screenshots
With a flight deck of 14,700m², the aircraft carrier is capable of accommodating fighter aircraft such as the Su-33, MiG-29K and Su-25UTG/UBP STOVL, and Ka-27S, Ka-27LD32 as well as Ka-27PLO helicopters. .
3. Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, United Kingdom
The Royal Navy’s largest aircraft carriers are the third largest in the world. The largest class of warships ever built for the Royal Navy, the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are also the second largest non-US warships, after the Japanese Yamato-class battleships.
Aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, UK. Photo: Royal Navy.Of the two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy, the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was commissioned in December 2017, while HMS Prince of Wales was launched in December 2017 and is expected to enter service in 2020. Both ships have a displacement of about 65,000 tons and a length of 280 meters. With the latest technology and automated systems on board, these ships only require a crew of 679 to operate and fight.
2. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USA
The US Navy’s ten Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers are the second largest aircraft carriers in the world. They are certainly among the best aircraft carriers and boast all the features expected of battleships.
Named after the commander of the US Pacific Fleet during World War II, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the lead ship of the class, USS Nimitz, was launched in May 1975. The 10th and final ship of the class, USS George H.W. Bush, was commissioned in January 2009.
Nimitz aircraft carrier, USA. Photo: US Navy.
With a full load displacement of 97,000 tons, this 1,150-foot-long aircraft carrier can carry more than 60 aircraft. These Nimitz-class ships can accommodate 3,000 to 3,200 ship squadrons, 1,500 aircraft, and a crew of 500. It is powered by two nuclear reactors and can reach speeds of over 30 knots.
1. Gerald R Ford Class Aircraft Carrier, USA
The title of the world’s largest aircraft carrier belongs to the US Navy ‘s Gerald R. Ford Class battleships. The first aircraft carrier in this class, USS Gerald R. Ford, was commissioned in May 2017 and four more ships in this class are announced to be under construction.
The world’s largest aircraft carrier Gerald R Ford, USA. Photo: US Navy
Gerald R Ford will be fully operational in 2020, with a full load displacement of 100,000 tons and a 78m wide flight deck with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system as well as advanced arresting equipment. USS Gerald R. Ford is capable of carrying more than 75 aircraft and can accommodate a total of 4,539 people.
