Biggest Aircraft Carrier in the World: Unveiling the USS Gerald R. Ford and Global Naval Powerhouses

Biggest Aircraft Carrier in the World: In the vast expanse of modern naval warfare, aircraft carriers stand as floating fortresses, projecting power across oceans and skies. Among these behemoths, the biggest aircraft carrier in the world is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), a marvel of American engineering that redefines supercarrier capabilities. Commissioned in 2017, this nuclear-powered giant not only holds the title of the largest aircraft carrier but also serves as the lead ship of its class, surpassing even the iconic Nimitz-class predecessors in size, technology, and operational efficiency.

As global tensions rise in regions like the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean, aircraft carriers remain pivotal in power projection. This article delves into the USS Gerald R. Ford’s dominance, contrasts it with emerging players like India’s INS Vikrant, and provides a comprehensive comparison of aircraft carriers. We’ll cover facts, detailed specifications, a country-wise list of the largest carriers, and the latest updates as of October 2025. Whether you’re a defense enthusiast or curious about naval might, this SEO-optimized guide uncovers the engineering feats and strategic roles behind these oceanic titans.

What Makes the USS Gerald R. Ford the Largest Aircraft Carrier?

The USS Gerald R. Ford earns its crown as the biggest aircraft carrier in the world through sheer scale and innovation. At over 100,000 tons of full-load displacement, it dwarfs most warships, offering unmatched endurance and firepower. Unlike conventional carriers reliant on fossil fuels, Ford’s nuclear propulsion—powered by two A1B reactors—provides virtually unlimited range, limited only by crew provisions.

This carrier’s design philosophy emphasizes reduced crew requirements (about 4,500 total, including air wing) through automation, cutting operational costs while boosting sortie rates. The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear enable up to 160 aircraft sorties per day, a 33% increase over Nimitz-class carriers. These advancements make Ford not just larger but smarter, integrating stealth features, advanced radar like the Dual Band Radar (DBR), and enhanced directed-energy weapons for future-proof defense.

Strategically, Ford’s size allows for a diverse air wing: F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, E-2D Hawkeyes for airborne early warning, and MH-60R Seahawks for anti-submarine warfare. In an era of hypersonic threats and drone swarms, the largest aircraft carrier like Ford acts as a mobile command center, coordinating joint operations across vast theaters.

Specifications of the USS Gerald R. Ford

To appreciate the engineering behind the biggest aircraft carrier in the world, let’s break down its key specs:

• Displacement: 100,000 tons (full load)
• Length: 1,106 feet (337 meters)
• Beam: 256 feet (78 meters) at flight deck; 134 feet (41 meters) at waterline
• Height: 250 feet (76 meters) from keel to mast top
• Draft: 39 feet (12 meters)
• Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
• Propulsion: 2 × A1B nuclear reactors; 4 shafts
• Crew: 2,600 ship’s company; 1,600 air wing; total ~4,539
• Aircraft Capacity: Up to 75+ fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including 44 fighters
• Armament: 3 × RIM-162 ESSM launchers; 3 × RIM-116 RAM; 3 × Phalanx CIWS; 4 × Mk38 25mm guns
• Range: Unlimited (20+ years between refuelings)

These figures position the USS Gerald R. Ford as a self-sustaining ecosystem, with 14 decks spanning the length of three football fields. Its flight deck alone covers 4.5 acres, optimized for simultaneous launches and recoveries. Compared to older designs, Ford’s island superstructure is smaller and angled aft, reducing radar signature and improving airflow for safer operations.

Recent Updates on USS Gerald R. Ford in 2025

As of October 8, 2025, the USS Gerald R. Ford continues to flex its muscles in high-stakes deployments. Following a transit through the Strait of Dover in August 2025, the carrier strike group – comprising destroyers like USS Mahan – entered the Norwegian Sea, operating above the Arctic Circle to demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO allies. In September, Ford made a historic port call to Oslo, Norway, on September 12, marking the first visit by a U.S. supercarrier to the Nordic nation. This showcased interoperability with Norwegian forces amid rising Russian activity in the region.

By early October, Ford had shifted to the Mediterranean Sea, its first operations there since August, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The carrier launched F-35C sorties to support allied surveillance, highlighting EMALS reliability during real-world ops. Challenges persist, however; the Ford-class program faces delays, with sister ship USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) now slated for 2027 commissioning due to arresting gear certifications. Despite this, Ford’s 2025 deployments underscore its role as the U.S. Navy’s premier asset, logging over 10,000 miles in European waters alone this year.

The Indian Aircraft Carrier Vikrant: India’s Pride

While the USS Gerald R. Ford reigns supreme, India’s Indian aircraft carrier Vikrant (INS Vikrant) represents a rising star in Asia’s naval landscape. As India’s first indigenously built carrier, Vikrant symbolizes self-reliance, with 76% of components sourced domestically. Commissioned on September 2, 2022, after 13 years of construction at Cochin Shipyard, it bolsters India’s blue-water ambitions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Vikrant operates STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration, using a ski-jump ramp for launches and arrestor wires for landings. This setup supports MiG-29K fighters and indigenous Tejas Navy jets, enhancing India’s strike range to 1,000+ km. In a multipolar world, Vikrant counters Chinese expansion, pairing with the refurbished INS Vikramaditya to form a twin-carrier force capable of sustained operations.

Specifications of INS Vikrant

Here’s a detailed look at the Indian aircraft carrier Vikrant‘s capabilities:

• Displacement: 45,000 tons (full load)
• Length: 860 feet (262 meters)
• Beam: 203 feet (62 meters)
• Draft: 28 feet (8.4 meters)
• Height: 84 feet (25.6 meters) to flight deck
• Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h)
• Propulsion: 4 × GE LM2500 gas turbines; 2 shafts
• Crew: 1,400 ship’s company; 600 air wing; total ~2,000
• Aircraft Capacity: 30+ aircraft, including 26 fighters (MiG-29K, HAL Tejas Mk1), 4 helicopters (Kamov Ka-31, MH-60R), and drones
• Armament: 4 × Barak 8 SAM; 2 × AK-630 CIWS; 3 × RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers
• Range: 7,500 nautical miles at 18 knots

At 14 decks tall—like a 14-story building – Vikrant integrates advanced sensors like the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar for 360-degree coverage. Its endurance suits extended IOR patrols, though conventional propulsion limits it compared to nuclear peers.

Recent Developments for INS Vikrant in 2025

October 2025 brings exciting news for the Indian aircraft carrier Vikrant. In a landmark first, Vikrant joined Britain’s HMS Prince of Wales for dual-carrier exercises under Operation Konkan in the Indian Ocean. F-35B Lightning IIs from the UK carrier “jousted” with Vikrant’s MiG-29Ks, simulating air superiority scenarios amid Indo-Pacific tensions. This high-intensity drill, lasting a week, tested interoperability, with Vikrant’s air wing logging over 200 sorties.

Earlier in September, India announced a 15-year defense plan including a nuclear-powered carrier (INS Vishal), potentially rivaling Ford’s scale at 70,000+ tons with EMALS. In April 2025, the Navy inked a deal for 26 Rafale M fighters to equip Vikrant, boosting multirole capabilities. These updates position Vikrant as a “game changer” for regional power balance, with full operational certification expected by late 2025.

Comparison of Aircraft Carriers: USS Gerald R. Ford vs. INS Vikrant and Others

A comparison of aircraft carriers reveals stark contrasts in philosophy and capability. The USS Gerald R. Ford outclasses INS Vikrant in every metric: double the displacement (100,000 vs. 45,000 tons), 30% longer (337m vs. 262m), and nuclear vs. gas-turbine propulsion for unlimited vs. 7,500-mile range. Ford’s EMALS enables heavier payloads and 160 daily sorties, versus Vikrant’s ski-jump-limited 30-40. Air wings? Ford’s 75+ aircraft dwarf Vikrant’s 30+, with stealth F-35Cs trumping MiG-29Ks in survivability.

Against China’s Fujian (Type 003), Ford edges in size (100,000 vs. 80,000-85,000 tons) and experience, but Fujian’s CATOBAR (catapult-assisted) system—tested with J-35 stealth jets in September 2025—closes the gap. UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class (80,600 tons, 284m) matches Fujian’s heft but relies on F-35B STOVL for vertical ops, limiting to 40 aircraft and 25-knot speed. France’s Charles de Gaulle (42,500 tons, 262m) is nuclear like Ford but smaller, carrying 40 Rafales at 27 knots.

Feature	USS Gerald R. Ford (USA)	INS Vikrant (India)	Fujian (China)	Queen Elizabeth (UK)	Charles de Gaulle (France)
Displacement (tons)	100,000	45,000	80,000-85,000	80,600	42,500
Length (m)	337	262	316	284	261.5
Speed (knots)	30+	28	30+	25	27
Aircraft Capacity	75+	30+	40+	40+	40
Propulsion	Nuclear	Gas Turbine	Conventional	Gas Turbine	Nuclear
Launch System	EMALS (CATOBAR)	Ski-Jump (STOBAR)	CATOBAR	Ski-Jump (STOVL)	CATOBAR
Crew Size	~4,500	~2,000	~3,000	~1,600	~1,950

This table highlights Ford’s supremacy in scale and tech, while Vikrant excels in cost-effectiveness ($2.5B vs. Ford’s $13B). Emerging carriers like Fujian signal a multipolar future, where quantity (China’s three vs. U.S. 11) challenges quality.

Country-Wise List of Largest Aircraft Carriers

Here’s a country-wise list of the largest aircraft carriers as of 2025, ranked by displacement. The U.S. dominates with 11 supercarriers, but others are catching up.

United States

• Largest: USS Gerald R. Ford (100,000 tons, nuclear, 75+ aircraft)
• Fleet: 11 total (10 Nimitz-class at 100,000 tons each)
• Notes: World’s most advanced; Ford leads with AI-integrated ops.

China

• Largest: Fujian (Type 003, 80,000-85,000 tons, CATOBAR, 40+ aircraft)
• Fleet: 3 (Liaoning: 60,000 tons; Shandong: 66,000 tons)
• Notes: Fujian in sea trials; launched J-35 stealth jets in Sept 2025.

United Kingdom

• Largest: HMS Queen Elizabeth (80,600 tons, gas turbine, 40+ F-35Bs)
• Fleet: 2 (HMS Prince of Wales identical)
• Notes: STOVL focus; joint drills with India in 2025.

India

• Largest: INS Vikrant (45,000 tons, STOBAR, 30+ aircraft)
• Fleet: 2 (INS Vikramaditya: 45,400 tons)
• Notes: Indigenous build; Rafale M integration underway.

France

• Largest: Charles de Gaulle (42,500 tons, nuclear, 40 Rafales)
• Fleet: 1 + 1 amphibious (Mistral-class, 21,000 tons)
• Notes: Only non-U.S. nuclear carrier; Rafale-centric air wing.

Russia

• Largest: Admiral Kuznetsov (58,600 tons, ski-jump, 20+ aircraft)
• Fleet: 1 (under refit)
• Notes: Aging; plagued by reliability issues.

Italy

• Largest: ITS Cavour (30,000 tons, STOVL, 20+ F-35Bs)
• Fleet: 2 (Giuseppe Garibaldi: 14,000 tons)
• Notes: Light carrier hybrid for expeditionary ops.

Japan

• Largest: JS Izumo (27,000 tons, converting to F-35B ops)
• Fleet: 4 (helo carriers, Izumo-class)
• Notes: Defensive posture; full carrier conversion by 2027.

Others

• Spain: Juan Carlos I (27,000 tons, STOVL)
• Brazil: Atlântico (21,578 tons, ex-UK)
• Thailand: HTMS Chakri Naruebet (11,486 tons, light)

This list, drawn from naval databases, shows the U.S. holding 60% of global carrier tonnage.

The Future of Aircraft Carriers

Looking ahead, aircraft carriers evolve amid unmanned systems and hypersonics. The U.S. plans nine more Ford-class ships by 2050, while China’s Type 004 may go nuclear. India’s INS Vishal (2028) could feature EMALS, and the UK eyes drone swarms for Queen Elizabeth upgrades. Challenges include cyber vulnerabilities and escalating costs—Ford’s $13B price tag sparks debates on unmanned alternatives.

Yet, as symbols of national resolve, carriers like the biggest aircraft carrier in the world endure. Recent 2025 exercises—from Arctic ops to Indo-Pacific drills—affirm their relevance in hybrid warfare.

Conclusion: The Enduring Might of Supercarriers

The biggest aircraft carrier in the world, USS Gerald R. Ford, exemplifies naval innovation, outpacing rivals like INS Vikrant in a comparison of aircraft carriers that spans technology and strategy. From the country-wise list above, it’s clear superpowers are racing to dominate the seas. As updates unfold—Ford in the Med, Vikrant in joint ops—these vessels shape global security. Stay tuned for more on naval evolutions; the ocean’s giants aren’t slowing down.