In this article, we look at the 15 biggest aircraft carriers in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis on trends in the naval industry and head over directly to the 5 Biggest Aircraft Carriers in the World, which includes a $13.3 billion warship!
Conflicts in different parts of the world have created a surge in the demand for aircraft carriers. The global industry for these giant war machines is projected to grow 2% between 2023 and 2028, with Asia-Pacific being the fastest growing market for aircraft carriers. These are among the most vital strategic military assets deployed by countries, that allow planes to land on and take off from the sea, that can prove critical during any armed conflict.
The history of aircraft carriers date back to 1910 when an American pilot, Eugene Ely, flew an aircraft from the deck of a cruiser in Virginia, and then in 1911 made a landing on a battleship in San Francisco Bay. These battleships attained great prominence with the British Navy’s HMS Argus, developed during World War I, and later the USS Langley becoming the first carrier to join the fleet of the US Navy in 1922. However, it was not until the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 that marked the arrival of aircraft carriers in military conflicts. Since then, several naval powers have focused on developing aircraft carriers, which are now considered as the most potent platform for naval warfare.
Today’s aircraft carriers are not only larger in size, but also come equipped with angled, armored fighting decks, latest electromagnetic and gear technology, steam-powered catapults, and landing signal systems to address complexities faced by older versions due to heavy weights and high landing speeds of aircraft. Moreover, there are also different variants of aircraft carriers in the market, such as nuclear-powered carriers, helicopter carriers, multipurpose carriers, and amphibious assault ships.
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) is among the major players in the industry, and has provided the US Navy with several notable aircraft carriers over the years, including the next-generation Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carriers, which would equip the American Navy to meet the operational needs of naval combat in the 21st century. These nuclear-powered carriers are being developed to replace the Nimitz class, and would be an improved version of the latter with features allowing greater aircraft deployments, fewer sailors, higher electrical power for ship systems, and a reduction in operating costs per ship by $4 billion.
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) has been a significant contributor to the strength of the US Navy. Besides building critical warships, the company also provides service facilities for these aircraft carriers while they remain in operation. 2023 was a record-breaking year for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII), with the company generating $11.5 billion in revenues – its highest in history, and 7.3% higher compared to 2022.
Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) has also played its role in enhancing the naval strength of the United States by taking an active part in sea-based tests involving aircraft carriers. According to reports, the CVN-79 Gerald R. Ford class carrier, which is scheduled to enter service in July 2025, will be capable of deploying Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)’s F-35 fighter jets by its next maintenance period.
General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD)’s expertise in building warships for the US military, especially submarines, has also been widely acclaimed by defense experts for contributing towards America’s naval strength. The company has been lending support for the aircraft carrier programs as well. In April 2023, General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) was awarded a $847 million contract to repair, maintain, and modernize carriers operated by the US Navy.
15 Biggest Aircraft Carriers in the World
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Methodology
The 15 biggest aircraft carriers in the world are ranked in ascending order of their displacement in tonnes. Data has been sourced from Insider Monkey and Yahoo Finance’s article on the 12 Countries With Most Aircraft Carriers. In cases where two or more carriers had the same level of displacement, we outranked one over the other based on the technological capabilities of the warships.
By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.
Let’s now head over to the list of the biggest aircraft carriers in the world by displacement.
15 Biggest Aircraft Carriers in the World:
15. Atlantico
Country: Brazil
Displacement: 21,500 tonnes
Atlantico is the only aircraft carrier in South America. The warship was originally built as HMS Ocean and was in use by the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, before being acquired by Brazil recently in 2018. The country plans on using the aircraft carrier to operate military drones. Atlantico has a displacement of 21,500 tonnes.
14. Juan Carlos I
Country: Spain
Displacement: 26,000 tonnes
Juan Carlos I is the only aircraft carrier operated by the Spanish Navy, and is named after the country’s former king. It is the largest warship ever built in Spain's history. The aircraft carrier is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system, is approximately 231 meters long, with a 32 meters beam, and has the capacity to travel at 21 knots.
13. Izumo
Country: Japan
Displacement: 27,000
Japan’s government in 2018 announced that it would convert Kaga and Izumo, its two helicopter carriers, into full-fledged aircraft carriers equipped to allow jets like Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)’s F-35s to land on and take off from. In 2021, US Marine fighters landed on Izumo, signaling the carrier’s transformed capabilities. It has a displacement of an estimated 27,000 tonnes.
12. TCG Anadolu
Country: Turkiye
Displacement: 27,000 tonnes
Next on our list of the biggest aircraft carriers in the world is Turkiye’s TCG Anadolu, the country’s only carrier that is equipped with aviation capabilities. The warship was commissioned in April 2023 and is designed on the model of Spain’s Juan Carlos I. The carrier has a maximum speed of 21 knots and a range of 9,000 nautical miles.
11. Cavour
Country: Italy
Displacement: 28,100 tonnes
Italy is among the rare few countries to operate two aircraft carriers. One of them is Cavour, which has an estimated displacement of over 28,000 tonnes, and is equipped with guns, decoy launchers, and several short-range defense systems. The carrier is the only Italian warship that is capable of launching and recovering the F-35 fighter jets.
10. INS Vikrant
Country: India
Displacement: 43,000 tonnes
The INS Vikrant is the first aircraft carrier to be ever built in India. The warship was constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited for approximately $3.1 billion. It has an estimated displacement of 43,000 tonnes and is capable of carrying up to 40 military aircraft, including helicopters. According to defense experts, INS Vikrant is more technologically advanced than India’s other carrier, INS Vikramaditya.
9. INS Vikramaditya
Country: India
Displacement: 44,500 tonnes
India’s INS Vikramaditya is one of the biggest aircraft carriers in the world, with a tonnage of 44,500. The warship served both the Soviet and later Russian navies, before being decommissioned in 1996 and then entering the service of the Indian Navy in 2013. According to Marine Insight, the INS Vikramaditya is equipped to carry about 36 aircraft, and has a beam of 61 meters.
8. FS Charles de Gaulle
Country: France
Displacement: 45,000 tonnes
Next up is France’s only aircraft carrier, the nuclear-powered FS Charles de Gaulle, which is considered to be one of the most potent warships in modern naval warfare. The giant war machine deploys a mix of military purpose aircraft, ranging from Rafale fighter jets to E-2 Hawkeye aircrafts and assault helicopters. The carrier has a displacement of 45,000 tonnes. The government in Paris plans on replacing the FS Charles de Gaulle at some point in the 2030s with Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération which is likely to have a tonnage of 70,000.
7. Admiral Kuznetsov
Country: Russia
Displacement: 58,000 tonnes
Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov is one of the biggest aircraft carriers in the world with a displacement of 58,000 tonnes. However, the warship which was commissioned way back in 1991, has suffered numerous breakdowns in the sea in the last few years, and has been undergoing maintenance and repair for quite some time now. The carrier has a range of 8,500 nautical miles and can travel at a speed of 29 knots.
6. Liaoning
Country: China
Displacement: 60,000 tonnes
Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning is in the sixth spot in the list, with a displacement of 60,000 tonnes. The warship was initially planned to become the second Admiral Kuznetsov class of carrier for the Soviet Navy, but the warship was later acquired by China after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Liaoning is capable of carrying around 50 military aircraft at a time. It has a length of 304.5 meters and a beam of 75 meters.
