In this article, we look at 5 countries with the most aircraft carriers. You can see how we ranked these countries and read about trends in the naval industry by heading over to our article, 12 Countries With Most Aircraft Carriers.
5. Japan
Aircraft Carriers: 2
Japan announced in 2018 to convert its two helicopter carriers Kaga and Izumo into warships that are capable of allowing fighter jets such as the F-35B to land and take off from. Fighter jets belonging to the U.S. Marines landed on the Izumo carrier in October 2021, which signalled the transformed capabilities of the platform. Both Izumo and Kaga have a combined displacement of approximately 64,200 tonnes.
4. India
Aircraft Carriers: 2
India operates two aircraft carriers – INS Vikramaditya, which served the Soviet and Russian navies before being decommissioned in 1996 and then entering into service of the Indian Navy in 2013, and INS Vikrant which is India’s own locally produced carrier. Both have an estimated displacement of 45,000 tonnes each, and are capable of carrying up to 40 aircrafts, including helicopters. India’s Cochin Shipyard Limited is also working on building the country’s third carrier, INS Vishal, which will have a displacement around 70,000 tonnes.
3. China
Aircraft Carriers: 2
China’s two aircraft carriers are Liaoning and Shandong, having displacements of 60,000 and 70,000 respectively. Liaoning is equipped to carry up to 38 aircrafts, which are usually 26 J-15 fighter jets and 12 naval helicopters. Shandong’s capacity to accommodate aircrafts is similar to that of Liaoning, but it also possesses combat operations capability unlike Liaoning, according to Popular Mechanics.
2. United Kingdom
Aircraft Carriers: 2
The United Kingdom operates two aircraft carriers – HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, both of which are part of the Queen Elizabeth class of carriers. These carriers have a displacement capacity of 72,000 tonnes each and are 920 feet long. These ships are typically equipped with between 20-24 fighter jets, with capacity to accommodate 36. BAE Systems plc was a leading member in the project along with Thales, Babcock and the Ministry of Defense in the UK to deliver the Queen Elizabeth class of aircraft carriers.
1. United States
Aircraft Carriers: 11
The United States tops the list of countries with most aircraft carriers. According to the Global Firepower Index of 2023, the US operates 11 aircraft carriers belonging to two classes – Nimitz and Ford. Both classes of warships have a displacement in excess of 100,000 tonnes. The USS Gerald R. Ford is equipped with the latest electromagnetic and gear technology that is essential for launching and recovering the aircrafts. This provides a competitive edge to the United States Navy over its rivals. It is one of the most powerful navies in the world, with presence in the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific.
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