The World's 10 Biggest Aircraft Carriers

The Gerald R Ford Class has a full load displacement of 100,000t. Image courtesy of U.S. Navy.

Naval-Technology.com: The 10 biggest aircraft carriers

The eminence of aircraft carriers as floating air bases has been proven since World War II. Three of the world's 10 biggest aircraft carriers by displacement are operated by Asian naval forces, while the US Navy owns the world's biggest aircraft carrier, the Gerald R Ford Class. Naval-technology.com lists the world's 10 biggest aircraft carriers by displacement.

Gerald R Ford Class, US

A full load displacement of 100,000t makes the Gerald R Ford Class the world’s biggest aircraft carrier. The first carrier in class, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), was delivered to the US Navy in May 2017, while initial operational capability is anticipated to be achieved in 2020.

The CVN-78 features a 78m-wide flight deck equipped with electromagnetic aircraft launch system and advanced arresting gear. The carrier has the capacity to carry more than 75 aircraft and can accommodate 4,539 personnel including ship’s company, air wing and other support staff.

Gerald R Ford is powered by two A1B nuclear reactors offering 250% more electrical capacity than the Nimitz Class. The weaponry includes RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs) and Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS).

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WNU Editor: I would have added the helicopter carriers to this list. This includes Japan's Izumo-class helicopter destroyer, the U.S. Navy's Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, France's Mistral class, and Australia's Canberra-class landing helicopter dock.