In the early twenty first century, many countries still see the
aircraft carrier as a viable platform for projecting power – there are currently nine countries which have carriers
in service: Brazil, France, India, Italy, Russia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.
Surprisingly, China does not yet formally have a carrier in service, though this is expected to change in the next
few years (the Shi-Lang is undergoing sea-trials, August 2011). Japan is also expected to join the elite group of
countries which have floating naval airbases. The total number of carriers in service worldwide is currently twenty
two, with half of that fleet being in US service.
At least eight countries have new carriers at the concept,
design, bought/refurbish or build stages. Spain in particular has been successful in selling its ‘Principe de
Asturias’ design to other countries, and China, Japan and India are developing the capability to build their own
carriers – in China’s case, a nuclear powered carrier.
The advent of the naval version of the UK Sea Harrier VTOL
(vertical take off and landing) aircraft, used for example by India, Spain and Italy, has enabled these
countries to deploy viable carrier power. With the Sea Harrier in its various forms becoming increasingly difficult
to support, the US F35 family (JSF – Joint Strike Aircraft) can only increase the viability of the
STOBAR carriers.
Despite the vast concentration of power and investment (both
political and financial) in what many see as a very visible and vulnerable target, the aircraft carrier is a
keystone of military doctrine in the armoury of these countries.
Russia, with only one operational aircraft carrier at
present, is an exception. The country extends for almost 12 time zones – halfway around the world - and its
perceived strategic opponents are all within the northern hemisphere. Arguably, with a fleet of modern land-based
aircraft and up to date missile technology, it can therefore project its power without the need for a large carrier
fleet.
Below is a table of world aircraft carrier
tonnage.
| World Aircraft Carrier
Fleet |
21st
Century |
|
|
|
|
Operational |
|
|
|
|
| Country |
Name |
Classification |
Configuration |
Tonnage |
In Service |
|
|
(N)= Nuclear
Powered |
|
(first
owner) |
| Brazil |
Sao Paulo (A12) |
Fleet Carrier |
CATOBAR |
32,800 |
2000 (1963) |
|
China
|
Shi-Lang |
Fleet Carrier |
STOBAR |
60,000
|
2012? |
| France |
Charles de Gaulle
(R31) |
Fleet Carrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
42,000 |
2001 |
| India |
Viraat (R22) |
Fleet Carrier |
STOVL |
28,700 |
1987(1953) |
| Italy |
Giuseppe Garibaldi
(551) |
Light Aircraft
Carrier |
STOVL |
13,850 |
1985 |
|
Cavour (550) |
Fleet Carrier |
STOVL |
30,000 |
2008 |
| Russia |
Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza
Kuznetsov |
Fleet Carrier |
STOBAR |
58,600 |
1991 |
| Spain |
Principe de Asturias
(R11) |
Light Aircraft
Carrier |
STOVL |
17,200 |
1988 |
|
Juan Carlos I
(L61) |
Light Aircraft
Carrier |
STOVL |
27,000 |
2010 |
| Thailand |
HMTS Chakri
Naruebet |
Light Aircraft
Carrier |
V/STOL |
11,400 |
1997 |
| United
Kingdom |
HMS Illustrious
(R06) |
Light Aircraft
Carrier |
STOVL |
22,000 |
1982 |
| United
States |
USS Enterprise
(CVN-65) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
95,000 |
1961 |
|
USS Nimitz
(CVN-68) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
100,000 |
1975 |
|
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
(CVN-69) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
102,000 |
1977 |
|
USS Carl Vinson
(CVN-70) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
101,000 |
1982 |
|
USS Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN-71) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
105,000 |
1986 |
|
USS Abraham Lincoln
(CVN-72) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
100,000 |
1989 |
|
USS George Washington
(CVN-73) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
104,000 |
1992 |
|
USS John C. Stennis
(CVN-74) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
103,000 |
1995 |
|
USS Harry S. Truman
(CVN-75) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
104,000 |
1998 |
|
USS Ronald Reagan
(CVN-76) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
101,000 |
2003 |
|
USS George H.W. Bush
(CVN-77) |
Supercarrier (N) |
CATOBAR |
102,000 |
2009 |
|
Number in Commission
21 |
|
Tonnage |
1,460,550 |
|
|
NB HMS Ark Royal Decommissioned
2011
|
|
|
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|
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|
(c) James Marinero 2011
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