PROJECTING POWER
Aircraft carriers symbolize a nation’s military might – specifically its ability to project air power far beyond its borders. Carriers are also extremely expensive and complicated to build and operate.
The Indo-Asia-Pacific region is amid an aircraft carrier arms race, with most of its major powers doubling or tripling the size of their carrier fleets.
DEVELOPMENTS by COUNTRY
China is operating a refurbished Soviet-built carrier bought in 1998. China’s Navy is reportedly building a second carrier and wants a flotilla of three or four carriers by 2020.
Japan recently doubled the size of its helicopter destroyer fleet.
India operates two refurbished carriers bought from the United Kingdom in 1986 and Russia in 2013. India is constructing its first indigenously built carrier, and plans to build a second one in the future.
Australia decided to build two Canberra-class carriers, the largest ships in Australian naval history. The first entered service in 2014. The second may follow sometime in 2016.
South Korea operates one helicopter carrier and plans to build another two, although their construction has been delayed.
WHAT IS AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER?
There is no single definition of an “aircraft carrier.” Generally, the term refers to a ship that’s equipped to deploy fixed-wing aircraft, including vertical-landing jump-jets.
The United States has 10 large “supercarriers,” displacing more than 64,000 metric tons, and nine smaller amphibious assault ships that primarily carry helicopters.
Most nations operate light (roughly 30,000 ton) or medium (40,000 ton) carriers. The carriers of South Korea and Thailand are small enough to be considered “helicopter carriers” and are used primarily for helicopters. Japan operates helicopter destroyers.
Largest Carriers per Country
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS per COUNTRY*
39 The number of aircraft carriers in service worldwide
The United States and the nations of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region account for the vast majority of carriers in use. Outside of these craft, 10 other aircraft carriers are in operation.
France has four. Italy has two.
Brazil, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom each has one.
* Includes super carriers, fleet carriers, light aircraft carriers, escort carriers, helicopter carriers and helicopter destroyers. Total of In service, Under Construction, and Planned totals are not cumulative given the decommissioning of older ships.
NUMBER of COMBAT AIRCRAFT
* Experts believe that many North Korean warplanes are not airworthy.
Sources: Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook, International Institute for Strategic Studies, public domain print and media reports.
