Aircraft Carrier - Aircraft Carriers in Service

Aircraft Carriers in Service

See also: List of aircraft carriers in service

Aircraft carriers are generally the largest ships operated by navies. A total of 22 aircraft carriers in active service are maintained by ten navies. Australia, Brazil, France, India, Italy, Thailand, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and the People's Republic of China also operate vessels capable of carrying and operating multiple helicopters.

Classes currently in service:

Brazil (1)

• NAe São Paulo (A12): 32,800 tonne ex-French carrier FS Foch (launched 1960), purchased in 2000.

China (1)

• Liaoning: formerly an incomplete stripped hulk of 57,000 tonne ex-Soviet Kuznetsov class carrier Varyag, commissioned on 25 September 2012. In service for experimentation and training it can navigate the high seas but not yet operate in combat or field fixed wing aircraft. It did experimentaly recover its first plane, a Shenyang J-15 fighter on Nov 25, 2012.

France (1)

• Charles de Gaulle (R 91): 42,000 tonne nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2001.

India (1)

• INS Viraat: 28,700 tonne ex-British STOVL converted carrier HMS Hermes (launched 1953), purchased in 1986 and commissioned in 1987, scheduled to be decommissioned in 2019.

Italy (2)

• Giuseppe Garibaldi (551): 14,000 tonne Italian STOVL carrier, commissioned in 1985.
• Cavour (550): 27,000 tonne Italian STOVL carrier, commissioned in 2008.

Russia (1)

• Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov: 55,000 tonne Kuznetsov class STOBAR aircraft carrier. Launched in 1985 as Tbilisi, renamed and operational from 1995.

Spain (2)

• Principe de Asturias (R11): 17,200 tonne STOVL carrier, commissioned in 1988.
• Juan Carlos I (L61): 27,000 tonne, Specially designed multipurpose strategic projection ship made to operate either as a second STOVL carrier or amphibious assault ship, launched in 2008, commissioned 30 September 2010.

Thailand (1)

• HTMS Chakri Naruebet: 11,400 tonne STOVL carrier based on Spanish Principe De Asturias design. Commissioned in 1997. The AV-8S Matador/Harrier STOVL fighter wing mostly inoperable by 1999 was retired from service without replacement in 2006. Ship now used for helicopter operations and as a disaster relief platform.

United Kingdom (1)

• HMS Illustrious: 22,000 tonne STOVL carrier, commissioned in 1982. Originally there were three of her class but the other two have since been retired to save money. Regular RN fixed wing aircraft carrier operations ended after first Sea Harrier and then Harrier fighters were retired as a cost-saving measure, now operating as a Landing Platform Helicopter.

United States (11+9)

• USS Enterprise (CVN-65): one 93,500 ton nuclear-powered supercarrier commissioned in 1961. First nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Scheduled for decommissioning in 2013.
• Nimitz class: ten 101,000 ton nuclear-powered supercarriers, the first of which was commissioned in 1975. A Nimitz class carrier is powered by two nuclear reactors and four steam turbines and is 1,092 feet (333 m) long.
• amphibious assault ship: The US Navy also operates nine amphibious assault ships, these very large full flight deck ships are comparable to the STOVL carriers of other nations or exceed them in capability when equipped with 20-25 fixed wing STOVL fighters and used for light carrier operations, a ski jump was omitted to allow more helicopter operating spots, but their primary mission is launching expeditionary missions by transport helicopter and hovercraft with a six to ten STOVL Harrier II fighters and a few gunship helicopters included for air support and CAP.

USS Peleliu (LHA-5) a 40,000 ton amphibious assault ship, and the last of the Tarawa class, ships of this class have been used in wartime in their secondary mission as a light carriers in the sea control profile with 20 AV-8B Harrier fighters after unloading their expeditionary unit.

Wasp class a class of eight 41,000 ton amphibious assault ships, members of this class have been used in wartime in their secondary mission as light carriers in the sea control profile with 20 to 25 AV-8B Harrier fighters after unloading their expeditionary unit.