An aircraft carrier is a giant sea floating air base that enhances the naval capability of a nation. Fitted with modern ballistics and surveillance equipment along with modern fighter jets and helicopters, these are the largest warships with a diverse role.
Aircraft carriers are the centrepiece of modern combat fleets. Their ability to sail through international waters by not interfering with territorial sovereignty of any country is an added advantage.
Check out the top five largest aircraft carriers:
Top 5 Largest Aircraft Carriers
HMS Queen Elizabeth: The aircraft carrier of the United Kingdom, with a maximum displacement of about 72,000 tonnes. Its length is about 920ft and beam is about 240ft.
This giant is powered by 2 Rolls-Royce MT30 36 MW gas turbine engines along with 4 Wartsila marine diesel engines. Fitted with S1850M long range-radar, Glide path camera, T997 3D medium-range radar, 3 Phalanx guns and 30 mm DS30M Mk2 guns.
It carries F-35B Lightning II, Chinook, Apache AH64, Merlin HM2 and other aircraft and helicopters. Speed of this carrier is around 25 knots.
Liaoning: This is the aircraft carrier of China, it is a Kuznetsov class carrier with a maximum displacement of about 58,600 tonnes. Its length is about 999ft and the beam is about 246 ft.
This giant is powered by steam turbines with 8 boilers and 4 shafts each generating 200,000 HP, along with 4 turbines of 50,000 HP each and 9 turbo-generators each generating 2000 HP.
Fitted with 3 1130 CIWS, 3 HQ-10 (18 cell missile system). It carries 26 Shenyang J-15, 6 Changhe Z-18F, 6 Changhe Z-18J and 2 Harbin Z-9 and other aircraft and helicopters. Speed of this carrier is around 32 knots.
Admiral Kuznetsov: This is the aircraft carrier of Russia, with a maximum displacement of about 58,600 tonnes. Its length is about 999ft and the beam is about 246 ft.
This giant is powered by steam turbines with 8 turbo pressurised boilers and 4 shafts each generating 200,000 HP, along with 4 turbines of 50,000 HP each and 9 turbo-generators each generating 2000 HP.
Fitted with 6 AK-630 AA guns, 8 CADS-N1 Kashtan CIWS guns, 24×8 cell Kinzhal SAM VLS system. It carries 18 SU-33, 6 MIG-29, 6 KA-31 and other aircraft and helicopters. Speed of this carrier is around 29 knots.
USS Nimitz Class: This is the aircraft carrier of USA, with a maximum displacement of about 100,020 tonnes. Its length is about 1092 ft and the beam is about 252 ft.
This giant is two nuclear powered reactors. Fitted with AN/SPS-48E #-D air search radar, AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar, 4 Mk95 radar.
It carries 2 Sea Sparrow, 2 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile and can carry about 90 fighter jets and helicopters. Speed of this carrier is around 31.5 knots.
USS Gerald R Ford Class: This is the aircraft carrier of USA, with a maximum displacement of about 100,000 tonnes. Its length is about 1,106ft and the beam is about 256 ft.
This giant is two A1B nuclear-powered reactors. Fitted with 2 RIM-1662 ESSM launchers, 2 RIM-116 RAM surface to Air missiles, 3 Phalanx CIWS, 4 M2 .50 Calibre machine guns.
It carries most modern fighter jets and Apache helicopters. Speed of this carrier is around 31.5 knots.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)