Aircraft carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship whose main role is to deploy and recover aircraft—in effect acting as a sea-going airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power great distances without having to depend on local bases for land-based aircraft. Modern navies, who operate such ships, treat aircraft carriers as the centerpiece of the fleet, a role previously played by the battleship. The change, part of the growth of air power as a significant part of warfare, took place during World War II. Unescorted carriers are considered vulnerable to attack by other ships, aircraft, submarines or missiles and therefore travel as part of a carrier battle group.

Future Aircraft carriers

Several nations which currently possess aircraft carriers are in the process of planning new classes, to replace current ones.

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French Marine Nationale

The French Navy has set in motion plans for a second aircraft carrier, to supplement Charles de Gaulle. The design is to be much larger, in the range of 50–60,000 tonnes, and will not be nuclear-powered like Charles de Gaulle. There are plans to work with the Royal Navy to develop a joint design, by BAE Systems and Thales, around the Royal Navy CVF programme.

Related Topics:
French Navy - Second aircraft carrier - ''Charles de Gaulle'' - Royal Navy - BAE Systems - Thales - Royal Navy CVF programme

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Indian Navy

India started the construction of a 37,500 tonne, 252 metre-long aircraft carrier in April 2005. The new carrier will cost US$762 million and will operate MiG 29K 'Fulcrum' and Sea Harrier aircraft along with Russian- and Indian-made helicopters. The ship will be powered by four turbine engines and when completed will have a range of 7,500 nautical miles, carrying 160 officers, 1400 sailors, and 30 aircraft. The carrier is to be constructed by a state-run shipyard in southern India. In 2004, India also bought Admiral Gorshkov from Russia for US$1.5 billion; it is expected to join the Indian navy in 2008 after a refit.{{ref|India}}

Related Topics:
India - April - 2005 - MiG 29K 'Fulcrum' - Sea Harrier - ''Admiral Gorshkov'' - Russia - Indian navy

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Italian Marina Militare

The construction of the conventional powered Marina Militare V/STOL aircraft carrier Cavour began in 2001. It is being built by Fincantieri of Italy. After much delay, Cavour is expected to enter service in 2008 and to replace the Marina Militare aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. A second aircraft carrier in the 25-30,000 ton range is much desired by the Italian Navy, to replace the already decommissioned carrier Vittorio Veneto , but for budgetary reasons all further development is on hold.

Related Topics:
Marina Militare - ''Cavour'' - Fincantieri - Italy - ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' - ''Vittorio Veneto''

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People's Republic of China

In June 2005, it was reported by boxun.com that China would build a US$362 million aircraft carrier with a displacement of 78,000 tons, to be built by the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. The report was denied by Chinese defense official Zhang Guangqin. {{ref|China}}

Related Topics:
China - Shanghai

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Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is currently planning two new Larger Aircraft carriers to replace the three units of the Invincible class currently in service with the Royal Navy. These two ships are expected to be named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. They will be able to operate about 50 aircraft and will have a displacement of around 60,000 tonnes. The two ships will enter service in 2012 and 2015 respectively. Their primary aircraft complement will be made up of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and their ship's company will number around 1000.

Related Topics:
Royal Navy - ''Invincible'' class - HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'' - HMS ''Prince of Wales'' - F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

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The two ships will form the centrepiece of the Royal Navy, and will be the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy. They will have adaptable designs to allow maximum flexibility in operations, and are likely to be designed with a ski jump for STOVL aircraft.

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Russian Federation

There is some evidence that the Russian Navy will seek to build a new carrier around 2010.

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Spanish Armada Española

The project for the 231 meter-long and 25.000-30.000 tons conventional powered Buque de Proyección Estratégica (Strategic projection vessel) for the Spanish navy was approved in 2003, and its construction started in august 2005, being Navantia in charge of the project. The Buque de proyección estratégica is a vessel designed to operate both as amphibious assault vessel and as VSTOL aircraft carrier, depending on the mission assigned. The design was made keeping in mind the low-intensity conflicts in which the Spanish Armada is going to be involved in the future. When it is configured to operate as VSTOL aircraft carrier, the operating range will be about 25.000 tons, and it will operate a maximum of 20 Matador AV-8B+, F-35 or a mixed force of both aircraft. The ship is provided with a Sky-Jump and a tri-dimensional radar based combat system, and she will be the second operating aircraft carrier of the Spanish navy after Príncipe de Asturias.

Related Topics:
Buque de Proyección Estratégica - Navantia - Amphibious assault - Matador AV-8B+ - F-35 - ''Príncipe de Asturias''

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US Navy

The current US Fleet of Nimitz-class carriers are to be followed into service(and in some cases replaced) by the CVN-21/CVNX Carrier. It is expected that the ships will be larger and will operate more aircraft than the 80 or so of Nimitz, and will also be designed for lower detectability by radar.

Related Topics:
US - ''Nimitz''-class - CVN-21 - ''Nimitz''

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