Aircraft Carrier

Lore & Background

Since their inception in the early 20th century, aircraft carriers have evolved from wooden vessels used to deploy individual tethered reconnaissance balloons, to nuclear-powered supercarriers that carry dozens of fighters, strike aircraft, military helicopters, AEW&Cs and other types of aircraft such as UCAVs. Since the Second World War, the aircraft carrier has replaced the battleship in the role of flagship of a fleet, and largely transformed naval battles from gunfire to beyond-visual-range air strikes.

Reader's Guide

Aircraft carriers are among the largest types of warships. Speed is a crucial attribute; a high speed increases the 'wind over the deck', boosting the lift available for fixed-wing aircraft. Modern navies use several variants, including CATOBAR, STOBAR, STOVL, and helicopter carriers. As of September 2026, there are 50 active aircraft carriers in the world operated by fifteen navies.

Did You Know?

• The United States has 11 large nuclear-powered CATOBAR fleet carriers – each carrying around 80 fighters – the largest in the world.
• Henry Kissinger said: 'An aircraft carrier is 100,000 tons of diplomacy.'
• The appellation 'supercarrier' is not an official designation but a term used predominantly by the media.