The criteria for their ranking are simple: size, displacement, air capabilities, defense systems. These features are decisive for every aircraft carrier. Let's see which are the 5 best!
5. Queen Elizabeth
Two Queen Elizabeth carriers have been built, with the delivery of the first ship in 2009. The vessel was fully operational in 2007.
The carriers have a displacement of 65,000t, length of 285m, and can carry up to 40 aircraft each. Even if the British carriers have a similar scale to the Russian and Chinese, the two last carry air superiority fighters. The United Kingdom only operates the F-35B multi-purpose fighters on the Queen Elizabeth class.
The defense systems are limited to a Phalanx weapon system and 30mm naval guns.
4. Shandong
Varyag was the second ship of the Soviet Kuznetsov class that was laid down in 1985 in Ukraine. After the USSR's dissolution, the carrier was sold to China and after some changes, it started serving for the Chinese Navy in 2012. Its new name was Liaoning.
In 2019, the Chinese Navy built another carrier of the same class that was named Shandong. This is the only carrier built inside the country.
Shandong has 64,000t displacement, 315m in length, and can carry up to 44 aircraft like the J-15 air superiority fighter.
The carrier is equipped with defense weapons of small range.
3. Kuznetsov class
Admiral Kuznetsov started to serve the Russian Navy in 1991. Even if it is smaller than the US ones, it has strong defense weapons.
The carrier has a displacement of 60,000t, a length of 305m, and can carry up to 40 aircraft.
The vessel carries a lot of defense weapons like cruise missiles that provide it with the ability to hit surface, subsurface, and air targets on its own.
2. Improved Nimitz class
In total, 10 carriers of the Nimitz class were built, 3 Nimitz and 7 improved Nimitz carriers.
The nuclear-powered vessels have a 100,000t displacement, 333m lengthy, and can carry up to 80 aircraft like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-purpose fighters, the attack F/A-18C Hornets, and more. Typically, it operates with 60 aircraft onboard, but if the circumstances require it, the carrier can load up to 130 F/A-18 Hornets.
The carrier has an automatic defense system against anti-ship cruise missiles.
1. Ford Class
The ford class is a successor of the Nimitz class of the US Navy. These are the largest military vessels that have been built.
The ships have a similar scale with the Nimitz carriers, although they are equipped with more advanced systems that feature much automation. Each ship carries up to 85 aircraft, like the F-35B/C and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-purpose fighters. Other options are the electronic warfare EA-18G, the MH-60 and MH-60S naval helicopters, and more.
It's interesting and at the same time funny, the fact that each aircraft carrier of the class has better air capabilities than whole Air Forces.
Its defense weapons include two Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles launchers with 16 missiles each. ESSM is used against fast incoming anti-ship missiles. There are also two launchers with 21 Rolling Airframe Missiles for anti-ship missiles of small range. Last but not least, four 20mm Phalanx systems are there for close combat support.
