Aircraft carriers have long been the jewels of naval power—airfields afloat that extend power, deter adversaries, and display national pride. In the current environment of heating up great power competition and breakthrough technological advances, these behemoth warships are more than symbols.
They’re strategic assets that can tip the scales in both regional conflicts and global wars. Here are the ten largest and most powerful aircraft carriers in operation today, and what makes each one a sea-based giant.
10. Charles de Gaulle – France
The Charles de Gaulle is the sole nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside of the U.S. Navy. With a displacement of 42,500 tonnes and a length of 261 meters, it can carry a maximum of 40 aircraft, including Rafale M fighter jets and E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft.
Nuclear power provides it with an essentially unlimited operating range, perfect for long missions with no refueling. The carrier has been the spearhead of French naval power around the globe, from the Indo-Pacific to the Mediterranean. Paris is currently preparing its replacement: the PA-NG, a 75,000-tonne nuclear carrier equipped with electromagnetic launch technology.
9. INS Vikrant – India
India’s home-grown carrier, the INS Vikrant, is a big step for India’s shipbuilding aspirations. With a displacement of approximately 45,000 tonnes and a length of 262 meters, it can accommodate about 40 aircraft, such as MiG-29K fighter jets and helicopters. The ski-jump deck facilitates STOBAR operations, and it is equipped with advanced defensive and sensor systems. Commissioning Vikrant was a strong message—India means business to be a premier naval power in the Indian Ocean.
8. INS Vikramaditya – India
After being the Soviet Admiral Gorshkov, the INS Vikramaditya was completely refitted before it joined the Indian fleet. Measuring 45,400 tonnes and 283.5 meters, it carries a maximum of 36 aircraft, mainly MiG-29Ks flown off using a ki-jump. The aircraft carrier has boosted India’s carrier strike capability, complementing the newer Vikrant to provide the Navy with a sustained blue-water presence.
7. Liaoning
The Liaoning started as a Soviet Kuznetsov-class carrier that was bought and overhauled, commissioning it into the People’s Liberation Army Navy in 2012. It displaces roughly 58,000 tonnes and is 304.5 meters in length, carrying as many as 50 planes, including J-15s. Though it serves partially as a training vessel, it’s also fully functional, setting the stage for more sophisticated locally designed ships.
6. Admiral Kuznetsov – Russia
Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov combines carrier aviation with heavy missile armament—a different design from Western carriers. It measures 58,500 tonnes and 305 meters and carries 33 fixed-wing aircraft and 12 helicopters. Its operational history has been in fits and starts because of technical problems, but it is the Russian Navy’s flagship and an exceptional instance of hybrid carrier doctrine.
5. Queen Elizabeth Class – United Kingdom
The UK’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are Britain’s largest warships ever, displacing approximately 65,000 tonnes and measuring 280 meters. Their air wings may carry up to 40 aircraft, including F-35B Lightning IIs and Merlin helicopters. Employing ski-jump decks to handle STOVL operations, these carriers are heavily automated, requiring only 679 crew for combat duties. But they also account for a disproportionate percentage of the Royal Navy’s overall fleet capacity, posing balance difficulties.
4. Shandong
The first completely locally developed carrier, the Shandong, was commissioned in 2019. It’s a little bigger than Liaoning at 70,000 tonnes and 305 meters with room for about 44 aircraft. Though still dependent on ski-jump STOBAR operations, it features more advanced systems and better living conditions, marking Beijing’s increasing carrier development.
3. Fujian
The Fujian (Type 003) is the most sophisticated carrier to date. Commissioned in 2022, it weighs around 80,000 tonnes and is 316 meters long. Most importantly, it’s the first Chinese carrier with electromagnetic catapults, keeping pace with America’s advanced launch systems in the Ford class. This enables it to carry heavier and more diverse aircraft, hugely increasing mission flexibility.
2. Nimitz Class – United States
The ten Nimitz-class carriers of the U.S. Navy have been the mainstay of American maritime power since the 1970s. Weighing 97,000 tonnes and measuring 332.8 meters, each one can support over 60 aircraft. Having twin nuclear reactors provides them with unparalleled staying power, while being equipped with integrated combat systems and logistical replenishment makes them the standard for carrier operations worldwide. They have played a part in every significant U.S. war for decades, representing sustained power projection.
1. Gerald R. Ford Class – United States
At the top is the Gerald R. Ford class, the largest and most technologically sophisticated carriers ever constructed. The lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford, weighs 100,000 tonnes, measures 337 meters, and accommodates more than 75 aircraft. EMALS and Advanced Arresting Gear accelerate flight operations more quickly and consistently, and automation saves on maintenance and crew workload. It’s built for speed, survivability, and efficiency—it sets the new gold standard for carrier warfare.
The battle for carrier supremacy is intensifying. France is continuing to develop its next-generation nuclear carrier, targeting commissioning in 2038. Acceleration of building the gap is closing on the West in technological terms. The United States remains wedded to its carrier-dominated doctrine, even amid discussions regarding survivability in the missile era.
Meanwhile, there are difficult choices for European navies. The Royal Navy is overextended with all its new carriers, and France is staking everything on one very capable platform backed by robust alliances.
One thing is sure: aircraft carriers will remain the very definition of naval power—huge, complicated, and at the heart of the plans of the world’s most ambitious seafaring powers. They will be developed according to the changing technology, new alliances, and the relentless struggle to command the seas.