The largest aircraft carrier. The largest aircraft carriers in the world. Modern aircraft carriers of the world. Comparison of the best aircraft carriers in the world

The Americans are the undisputed leaders in aircraft carriers, but other powers have something to brag about. For example, the cunning Chinese recently announced the laying of their own floating airfield. In honor of this event, M PORT has compiled a rating of aircraft carriers in service with different countries.

ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV (Russia)

Main advantage Admiral - its speed. He does 35 miles an hour with ease, so don't get in his way! It is lighter than any US aircraft carrier, but the formidable Su planes on board seem to be hinting: Comrade Kuznetsov is not a joke.

Started on combat duty - 1991
Displacement - 55 200 tons
Length - 305 meters
Autonomy - 45 days
Crew - 1609 people
Aviation - 12 helicopters (Ka-27), 33 aircraft (Su-33 and Su-25)

UNTAMMABLE (Invincible, UK)

Until 2005 - a class of light British aircraft carriers, which proved to be excellent during the war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982. In the 90s Indomitable supported the raids on Iraq. Since 2005, it has been replaced by ships of the Queen Elizabeth class, more sophisticated, but less legendary.

Started on alert duty - 1980
Displacement - 20 600 tons
Length - 209 meters
Autonomy - 7000 miles
Crew - 875 people
Aviation - 22 aircraft and helicopters

CHARLES DE Gaulle (France)

The only aircraft carrier in France, but very serious, since it is nuclear powered. The journey can take a very long time. Carries 40 aircraft, which is a powerful striking force. In 93 on board de Gaulle an emergency happened: the staff of the British Mi-6 entered the aircraft carrier under the guise of an inspection. The cunning spies managed to inspect the ship, but they were promptly captured.

Started on combat duty - 1994
Displacement - 42,000 tons
Length - 261 meters
Autonomy - 45 days
Crew - 1900 people
Aviation - up to 40 aircraft and helicopters

PRINCE OF ASTURIAN (Spain)

This aircraft carrier is so long that you can safely arrange a bullfight on its deck - 196 meters in length allow it. The pride of the Spanish fleet, and what else to do - there are no others!

Started on combat duty - 1989
Displacement - 16 700 tons
Length - 196 meters
Crew - 763 people
Aviation - 14 helicopters, 8 aircraft (Harrier-2)

GEORGE BUSH (USS George H.W. Bush, USA).

Nimitz-class heavy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. There is no doubt that this toy is the best in the world. And, moreover, the newest: the ship was launched in 2006. For comparison, the above aircraft carriers were built in the last century.

Started on combat duty - 2009
Displacement - 97,000 tons
Length - 332 meters
Crew - 5680 people
Aviation - 90 aircraft and helicopters

For reference: who shot down the first Nimitz?

The US military claims that aircraft carriers of the type Nimitz are completely invulnerable. However, Russian aviation has proven that this is far from the case. The incident occurred during a US-Japanese exercise: Russian aircraft flew unnoticed to a US Navy aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk and photographed him in all poses. The Americans did not even have time to raise the carrier-based aircraft, or at least shoot a rocket after them. In military language, this means "conditional destruction of an aircraft carrier."

Updated: 21.10.2019 13:35:05

Expert: Lev Kaufman

* Review of the best according to the editorial site. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a mobile base for carrier-based aircraft. It can host different kinds aircraft and helicopters: combat (including aircraft carrying nuclear weapons), reconnaissance, transport, rescue, and so on. Today, aircraft carriers are the largest warships in service. Some of them are equipped with a nuclear power plant, which allows for long voyages without the need for refueling. The cost of one such ship can reach six billion dollars. But they are the most powerful tool to protect the state's borders from the sea or to gain local superiority in the zone of military conflicts.

Rating of the largest aircraft carriers in the world in service

Nomination	a place	Aircraft carrier	Length, m.
Rating of the largest aircraft carriers in the world in service	10		183
	9		244
	8		261
	7		265
	6		283
	5		284
	4		304
	3		305
	2		332
	1		337

This light aircraft carrier is in service with the Royal Thai Navy. It was built by a Spanish shipbuilding firm in 1997. "Chakri Narbet" is 183 meters long and can accommodate up to 600 crew members. The maximum speed of the vessel is 26 knots. An air group is placed on its deck, which includes the AV-8S Matador assault aircraft and multipurpose helicopters S-70B. The ship's defensive system is represented by Mistral short-range homing missiles. The aircraft carrier has a relatively low combat capability, and most of the time it serves either as a base for rescue operations or as a tourist destination. It is also often used by the ruler of Thailand, for which it was nicknamed the world's largest royal yacht.

The Italian aircraft carrier Cavour has been in service since 2008 and is 244 meters long. It was named after Count Cavour, famous for his services in the unification of Italy. The ship can serve as a base for more than 20 aircraft and helicopters, as well as a couple of dozen tanks or 50 heavy combat vehicles. The number of the ship's crew exceeds 500 people. Currently, the AV-8B Harrier II vertical take-off and landing attack aircraft are based on the deck, which are subsequently planned to be replaced with Lockheed Martin F-35 multi-functional fighters. The aircraft carrier is equipped with modern radar equipment, for protection it has artillery installations and missile weapons. Potentially "Cavour" can be used as a landing ship and as a command center. The maximum speed of the aircraft carrier is 28 knots.

The largest aircraft carrier of the French naval forces, was launched in 2001. The ship with a length of 261 meters can carry on its decks (flight and hangar) up to 40 combat aircraft and helicopters, as well as more than a thousand crew members. The main aviation armament is Dassault Rafale fighters, in addition there are Super Étendard attack aircraft, radar warfare aircraft and several types of helicopters. The flagship of the French fleet is equipped with a nuclear installation, which significantly expands the range of its autonomous action. It is capable of moving at a speed of 27 knots. The flight deck with steam catapults allows the release of two aircraft per minute. The ship's own armament consists of a missile system and a huge set of target detection equipment. The aircraft carrier has a unique automatic stabilization system SATRAP, which allows takeoff and landing in sea waves up to six points.

The Brazilian aircraft carrier used to be called Foch and belonged to France. He took part in a number of military operations. Since 2000, after a major overhaul, the ship was transferred to service with the Brazilian fleet. The 265-meter vessel can accommodate more than 30 aircraft and almost two thousand people. Its main attack units are light attack aircraft A-4 Skyhawk and anti-submarine helicopters Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King. In addition, there are transport and search and rescue aircraft equipment. The aircraft carrier's defense complex is represented by two launchers of an anti-aircraft missile system, a pair of artillery mounts and five machine guns.

The Indian aircraft carrier has a length of 283 meters, it can transport up to 40 aircraft on its deck, the ship's crew exceeds 1,500 people. Previously, she was a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser, was part of the Russian Navy and was called "Admiral of the Fleet Soviet Union Gorshkov. "After a deep modernization, the vessel was transferred to the Indian Navy. Deck aviation is represented by aircraft and helicopters. russian production: MIG-29, Ka-28, Ka-31.

The aircraft carrier was built to replace the obsolete Invisible class ships. The ship with a length of 284 meters is capable of placing a maximum of 70 aircraft units on its deck, if necessary. Thanks to the highest level automation, the number of the crew is less than 700 people, but the total capacity of the vessel exceeds one and a half thousand people. The regular composition of the Quinn Elizabeth air group consists of fighters with vertical takeoff / landing F-35B, anti-submarine helicopters AW101 Merlin, AW159 Wildcat and heavy transport CH-47 Chinook. The flight deck does not have catapults, instead it is equipped with a springboard for aircraft, it is possible to simultaneously take off and land on it. The ship's propulsion system allows a speed of 26 nautical knots. The aircraft carrier's own armament consists of the Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS anti-aircraft artillery system.

The aircraft carrier of the Chinese naval forces "Liaoning", formerly bearing the name "Varyag", was built at the Nikolaev shipyard and put into operation since 1988. Ten years later, it was sold to China for $ 20 million, where the ship underwent a major refit. The aircraft carrier has a length of 304 meters and can accommodate up to 50 units of aviation combat equipment, as well as more than two thousand people. Especially for him, the Chinese created a carrier-based version of the J-11 fighter, which is an almost exact copy of the Soviet Su-27 aircraft. In addition to fighters, anti-submarine and search and rescue helicopters are based on the ship. After the modernization, the aircraft carrier lost its offensive weapons and is currently equipped with only three short-range artillery systems and three FL-3000N anti-aircraft missile systems, which can hit targets at a distance of up to 6 kilometers.

The heavy aircraft carrier is one of a kind. It has a huge flight deck with a total area of \u200b\u200b14 thousand square meters and is designed for the basing of 40 aircraft. The basis of its naval aviation is the MiG-29 and Su-33 fighter-bombers. In addition, there are attack helicopters Ka-52 and anti-submarine Ka-27. The maximum crew capacity is two thousand people. The propulsion system is capable of propelling the massive 305-meter vessel to a speed of 29 knots. The Admiral Kuznetsov is equipped with an advanced radar system and a large number of anti-aircraft missile launchers. In addition, there are six AK-630M rapid-fire artillery mounts. But the most formidable armament of the ship is twelve units with Granit cruise missiles, the range of which exceeds 500 kilometers.

The American aircraft carrier "Nimitz" is capable of accommodating up to 90 units of combat aircraft, as well as about five thousand crew members. The vessel is 332 meters long, is equipped with two nuclear reactors and can move at speeds up to 31 knots. It is home to F / A-18 fighters, EA-6 Prowler electronic warfare aircraft and Seahawk multipurpose helicopters. Automated defense systems operate two missile launchers of the RIM-116 complex and two RIM-7 Sea Sparrow air defense systems with guided missiles. The aircraft carrier has already established itself by taking part in several real combat operations.

The largest of modern aircraft carriers (and warships in general) is 337 meters long. Its dimensions exceed three football fields, and in height it is approximately equal to a 35-storey building. The ship got its name in honor of the 38th President of the United States. The construction of the aircraft carrier cost the US government $ 3.3 billion. It is equipped with a powerful power plant, which includes two nuclear reactors, which provide complete autonomy and do not need to replace fuel rods until the very end of the ship's expected 50-year service life. The ship replaced the aircraft carrier "Enterprise", it is not only modern, but also more economical due to the introduction of automation systems, which reduced the number of the crew to 2,700 people. The maximum speed that the ship can develop is more than 30 nautical knots. The core of the air group is made up of the latest F-35C Lightning II fighters, F / A-18E / F Super Hornet fighter-bombers, electronic warfare and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as multipurpose aircraft and transport helicopters... The anti-aircraft missile system allows intercepting targets at a distance of up to 50 kilometers.

Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

The largest warships can be safely called aircraft carriers. Already from the name it is clear why such a ship is needed - along with a large number of stationary weapons and military equipment it accommodates various types of combat aircraft and helicopters. Airplanes need a large acceleration platform - the runway, which is why all powerful aircraft carriers are huge. Every powerful power seeks to have at least one such ship in service to ensure independence on the world stage and respect from other countries. Today, only ten countries have such vessels.

The history of the creation and development of aircraft carriers

In 1910, an American pilot was first able to lift an aircraft from a cruiser. This year is considered the beginning of the birth of aircraft carriers. A special wooden platform was installed on the Birmingham ship, from which it was possible to accelerate and take off. One year later, the same pilot managed to land the plane on the ship, again equipped with a temporary enlarged platform. IN next years the British joined the development of such ships, they began to experiment with taking off from a moving ship. Initially, naval aviation was to be used only in reconnaissance expeditions.

The main difficulty for the engineers was to create a sufficient runway length. In 1915, American officers developed a special steam catapult for launching aircraft from a ship. Thanks to this, it became possible to launch aircraft equipped with military equipment... Later, electromagnetic were created, which made it possible to increase the size of aircraft and the volume of weapons. In addition to takeoff, there was a problem with landing, and it was not only the skills of the pilots, but also the length of the runway. During World War I, Britain began converting its merchant ships into larger decks. For braking the aircraft, they began to use special devices, which have hardly changed to this day. This is on the ship that the plane clung to when it landed.

In 1922, Japan launched the first ship for the first time, originally designed as an aircraft-carrying cruiser, rather than converting another ship into an analogue. Five years later, the United States was included in the list of countries with new warships with aircraft on board. During the same period, floating stations for seaplanes were actively used. Aviation took off and landed from the water, and with the help of special devices, aircraft were raised or lowered on board the ship.

The period of the Great Patriotic War

During World War II, Great Britain had 7 aircraft carriers, France had 1 aircraft carrier, the USA had 8 and Japan had 6 units. This war is rightfully considered a war of sea battles. Japan and America already had full-fledged combat aircraft carriers at that time. These countries determined that the pledge of victory over the enemy would not be conventional warships, but aviation. There was no point in sending a plane across the Pacific Ocean. The above-described cruisers served as an excellent solution. In February 1942, Japan managed to sink an American aircraft carrier for the first time in the world. In the same period, in response to the aggression, the US military during Operation Dolittle Raid launched aircraft from the Hornet and attacked Tokyo. This story formed the basis of the plot of the popular film "Pearl Harbor".

For the first time in the world, in naval battles, ships were placed at long distances from each other and did not even see the enemy. Military operations were carried out using an aircraft from an aircraft carrier. It was truly a war between two sea titans. At the end of the battles, the military might of the victorious countries did not stop the development of naval weapons. So, in 1945, Great Britain put a jet plane on board for the first time. This led to a new impetus in the construction of aircraft carriers - a new sloped deck and a more powerful steam catapult for launch were born. The leading countries in the field of shipbuilding at that moment were the USA, England and France. In the post-war period, they began to design ships for naval battles, where combat aircraft and helicopters necessary for rescue operations were based.

Submarine aircraft carriers

During World War II, Japan used submarines with a disassembled plane inside. It was a rather inconvenient weapon that required lengthy assembly and disassembly. However, in the third year of the war, the plane took off from an underwater and dropped two incendiary bombs in the Oregon region of America, in the hopes of provoking massive forest fires. The tragedy was avoided, but the very appearance of the aggressor was sudden and seriously frightened the American authorities due to the fact that it was not clear how the enemy plane could get into American airspace unnoticed. Similar submarines were also in service with England and France.

The next stage in the development of military developments was the Korean War. The fighters that rose from the ship first attacked ground targets in North Korea... In 1960, America launched the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. And after only two months she informed the world about the second ship of the same kind. The next important experiment was the cruisers' voyage around the world without refueling on the shore. Today, aircraft carriers can make many years of autonomous stay in the ocean without having to go to ports for refueling.

Russia also tried to keep up with other countries in military equipment. Back in 1904, the ship "Rus", purchased from the Germans, was equipped with 8 balloons hot air balloon... However, the ship was not used in any and subsequent battles. After that, various designs of aircraft carriers were created, but none of these projects was implemented. During the First World War, several steamers were converted into seaplane carriers, but this technique could not be compared with the naval weapons of Britain and the United States.

In the Soviet Union, aircraft carriers were considered an instrument of aggression - in their opinion, a very vulnerable aggression. The main blows during combat clashes were delivered precisely against them. The first was launched only in 1985 and entered service in Russia in 1991.

The world's modern aircraft carrier fleet includes about 1,250 aircraft and even more helicopters. However, a significant part of them are based on American courts. In addition to aviation, the ships are equipped with multiple missile technology and air defense systems. The length of all aircraft carriers is from 182 to 342 meters. The ship's hull is made of steel, its thickness reaches several centimeters. There are large hangars under the airstrip for storing aircraft and helicopters, as well as carrying out repairs. Aircraft are moved from deck to deck using special cranes. Engine rooms and others are located under the bottom of the hangars. office space... Considering that the main purpose of such ships is to ensure takeoff and landing of aviation, command post, radar devices and antennas are located on a small so-called "island", which is almost always located on the right side of the board. This is due to the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century, British military researchers proved that in the event of an unsuccessful landing, all pilots automatically turn the plane to the left when trying to make a second approach.

How many aircraft carriers are there in the world?

At the moment, there are only 22 ships of this class in the world. Let's consider in more detail the operating types:

The first place in terms of the number of ships in service are, they include 11 aircraft carriers. As mentioned above, they include about 1000 aircraft, the length of each ship is from 250 to 331 meters, the speed is from 31 knots, the crew of each ship is from 2000 to 5000 people.
Next in terms of the number of aircraft carrier ships are occupied by Italy and Spain - they each have 2 weapons in their composition;
The third place is taken by countries with one such vessel. These are Russia, China, Brazil, France, Thailand, India and Great Britain.

In service with Russia is one heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov", its displacement is 70,500 tons, length - 304 meters. The vessel has 24 aircraft and 42 helicopters, the speed reaches 32 knots.

Count by country

USA (11 ships) - type "Ford" (1 ship Gerald R. Ford) - in service since May 2017. Launch of production - 2005, 8 years later it was launched, followed by testing and completion. The predecessor of this ship was the legendary "Enterprise", which served for over 40 years and participated in many military missions made by America. Now the largest aircraft carrier in the world, it cost about $ 13 billion to build - Gerald R. Ford, accordingly, is also the most expensive aircraft carrier in the world.
Type "" (10 ships) - ships with a nuclear reactor, also owned by the United States. In 1975, the first copy was put into operation, and the tenth by 2009. Ships of this class were widely used in armed clashes in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and in Iraq. The cost of each such aircraft carrier is about $ 4.5 billion.
Italy (2 ships) - "Cavour" - has been in the fleet since 2007, has 8 aircraft and 12 helicopters on board, the length of the vessel is 244 m, the speed is 30 knots.
"Giusepe Garibaldi" - another flagship of the Italian fleet, launched in 1983, has a length of 180 m, a speed of 30 knots.
India (1 ship) - The Indian aircraft carrier Vikramaditya was purchased from Russia in 2013. Former name "Admiral Gorshkov". The length is 274 m, the maximum speed is 32 knots, it can accommodate up to 20 aircraft and about 10 helicopters. In 2018 and 2023, 2 more aircraft-carrying cruisers are planned to enter the country's navy.
China (1 ship) - The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was purchased from Ukraine in 2012 for $ 20 million. Former name "Varyag". Its length is 304 m, the aviation composition includes 24 fighters and 12 helicopters.
Spain (2 ships) - The aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos" is in service with the Spanish Navy, has been in service since 2010, length 230 m, is armed with up to 30 aircraft and helicopters.
France (1 ship) - The Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is the flagship of the French military forces. It was put into operation in 2001, its length is 261m, it includes up to 40 aircraft.
Brazil (1 ship) - "Sao Paulo" - the aircraft carrier has been in operation since 2001, length 265 meters, includes 14 aircraft and 11 helicopters;
Thailand (1 ship) - represented by the aircraft carrier "Chakri Narubet" - has the smallest size among the existing analogues, the length is 182 meters, the aviation group consists of 14 aircraft and 12 helicopters. Has been in operation since 1997.
Great Britain (1 ship) - type "Illastries" - one of the oldest operational aircraft carriers, participated in the Second World War. Length 205 m, armed with 33 aircraft. Currently, new aircraft carriers are being prepared for the launch, which should replace the current copy.
Russia (1 ship) "Admiral Kuznetsov", the last on the list, but not in importance and power. Used since 1991, length 270m, aviation strength: 50 aircraft and helicopters. Below we will consider it in more detail.

Comparison of the best aircraft carriers in the world

Consider ten of the most powerful and largest aircraft carriers in the world in the entire history of these ships. Let's dwell on each of them in more detail.

Enterprise (USA) - this nuclear-powered large aircraft carrier is rightfully ranked first. It was commissioned back in 1961, over the next 50 years there was no replacement for this fighting monster. In the middle of the 20th century, it was planned to build five more of the same ships, however, given the too high cost of the ship, it was decided to leave it in a single copy. Thanks to nuclear fuel, it can be autonomous in the ocean for up to 13 years. The largest aircraft carrier in the world has a length of 342.3 meters, can accommodate up to 80 aircraft, and a crew of 3,000. The rover includes four steam catapults, which allow one to launch aircraft one after another in 15 seconds each. Four cables have been installed on the runway to help the brake cylinders function. Also, the ship is equipped with a special nylon mesh, which in case of problems when braking the aircraft will be able to catch it and prevent an accident. The ship took part in the wars with Cuba, Vietnam and Iraq. In 2012 she was withdrawn from the US Navy. After another 5 years, the legendary aircraft carrier Enterprise was decommissioned. Instead came new ship Gerald R. Ford, who plans to enter service with the US Navy by 2020. Prior to this period, the vessel will make several exits to the open sea to confirm its combat readiness. The ship cost the country approximately $ 13 billion and is the most expensive aircraft carrier in the world. In terms of its armament, the vessel does not differ from its predecessor, however, it significantly surpasses it in terms of automation, which makes it possible to reduce the number of crew. Also, new technologies were used to ensure the stealth of the ship when it tries to detect it using radars.
Nimitz (USA) is another example of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the first of which was produced in 1975. The release lasted until 2009. Currently, the US has 10 such ships in service. Its length is 330 meters. Such ships were actively used during the hostilities in Yugoslavia and Iraq. The ship is worth about $ 4.5 billion. Nuclear reactor allows the ship to be in autonomous navigation for about 25 years. The period of operation is 50 years.
(USA) - the first such aircraft carrier was launched back in 1955. The length was 325 meters. Today, ships of this configuration are no longer in service with any country in the world. However, the ship still ranks third on the list of the largest aircraft carriers in the world.
(USA) - the length of the aircraft carrier is 320 meters, the instance is known for a large number of accidents on board related to fires. As a result of one of these tragedies, 135 people were burned to death. Removed from service in 1993.
John F. Kennedy (USA) - the aircraft-carrying cruiser is also 320 meters long, was retired from the US Navy in 2007. The ship served for about 40 years, carrying out missions mainly in the Mediterranean Sea. During his service he suffered several sea collisions.
(USA) - length is 305 meters, was produced in 1945, was the first heavy American aircraft carrier. It has been withdrawn from service since 1992, today it serves as a museum of the fleet.
Admiral Kuznetsov (USSR-RF) - the ship was built in the city of Nikolaev in 1985, today it is in service Northern Fleet Russian Navy, the length of the aircraft carrier is 300 meters.
Lexington (USA) - a ship of the period of World War II, but in 1946 it was sunk after nuclear tests were carried out with its help.
Cruiser Varyag / Liaoning (USSR-Ukraine-China) - was launched in 1988 in Nikolaev. During the collapse of the Union, construction continued on board. Accordingly, the ship passed into the ownership of Ukraine, however, repair work during this period was stopped. Subsequently, the unfinished aircraft carrier was sold to China for $ 20 million. Today it is in service with the Chinese Navy.
Shinano (Japan) - was built in 1942 and participated in the war against America. The length of the vessel was 266m - until the end of the 50s of the last century, it was the world's largest aircraft carrier. In November 1944, during a battle with the American military, the ship was sunk, and with it 1,435 crew.

Latest developments

One of the latest innovations in the field of the Navy, according to rumors of experts, is the development of underwater aviation of the Russian Federation. The first Russian nuclear-powered submarine aircraft carrier of Project 941-bis is rumored to be ready by 2020. The idea of \u200b\u200bsuch a vessel has been developed since 1991 at the Rubinov project of transport submarines. Today on the Internet you can find a model of such a submarine. However, this submarine and its device are strictly classified, it is not possible to find out the real dates of commissioning. One thing is certain - if it goes into service, it will be the best aircraft carrier in the world and the only nuclear powered submarine with fighters on board.

As seen from the list of the largest aircraft-carrying cruisers of the world of all times, the undisputed leading place in this type of weaponry is occupied by the US aircraft carriers. Aircraft carriers are an important attribute in the naval forces of any country, at the same time they are one of the most vulnerable ships in large-scale battles. Such ships are indispensable when conducting military operations with countries that do not have modern nuclear weapons. In the event of aggression from a power of equal power, aircraft carriers will remain an important, but not the main, component in the conduct of hostilities.

Russia is reportedly planning to build "the world's largest aircraft carrier" to bolster its defenses and compete with the United States in this area.

The aircraft carrier "Storm" will be able to carry 90 combat aircraft on board and will cost about $ 17.5 billion, the British newspaper notes, citing Russian media.

This ship, now known as Project 23000, could be ready by 2030. However, whether it will truly become the largest aircraft carrier in the world, as Moscow claims, is a moot point.

Its technical characteristics, the article notes, are similar to those of the American Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. And one of the experts even told the media that the design of the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will be taken as the basis of the ship, the newspaper claims.

According to the project, the deck of the new aircraft carrier will be the size of three football fields, and the number of the crew will reach 4 thousand people. The ship will become so big that it will have its own zip code, The Independent reports.

Currently, Russia has only the aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov", which was launched back in 1985. In its capabilities, it is seriously inferior to the ship "Storm".

Russian aircraft carrier of the future. Project Storm 23000

Promising multipurpose heavy supercarrier of the future - Storm (project 23000), is being developed in the Russian state scientific center them. Krylova (St. Petersburg) in cooperation with the Nevsky Design Bureau.

The ship is aimed at performing various tasks in the distant ocean and sea zones. It will be able to strike at enemy ground and sea targets with its own weapons and aircraft of the air group, as well as provide air defense.

The main requirements set by the Main Command of the Navy for the new Russian aircraft carrier are autonomy and mobility. The ship must move all necessary equipment and equipment in the right place and in a short time. And the air group should provide patrolling and quickly increase its presence in the given region.

At the same time, the Storm must have broad capabilities both in terms of using carrier-based aircraft and in terms of the combat effectiveness of actions as part of diverse forces. The newest aircraft carrier will be tasked with detecting and destroying enemy underwater and surface assets, striking enemy infrastructure on land, and protecting its own fleet.

The concept of a new multifunctional aircraft carrier

The concept of the new multifunctional aircraft carrier provides for the placement of up to 100 aircraft on board. Aircraft and helicopters of five different types will be deployed and docked at the stern and bow of the aircraft carrier.

The aircraft carrier will have a virtually "bare" deck. Instead of a massive tower, there are two "islands" of management (two island superstructures). This will save space on the deck and reduce the ship's radio signature at sea.

The aircraft carrier will be equipped with a 175 MW RITM-200 two-reactor power plant.

The storm will have a hybrid aircraft launch system - two electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) for aircraft acceleration and two jumps (a total of 4 starting positions on the flight deck). The runway length of one of the jumps will exceed 250 meters. The landing of the aircraft will be provided with one aerofinisher (a cable-based device that dampens the landing speed). To save space, aircraft lifts will be vertical and swing-type.

The storm will be equipped with an integrated combat control system. The aircraft carrier's electronic complex will include integrated sensors, including radar stations with an active phased antenna array (radar with AFAR).

The aircraft carrier will provide takeoff and landing of aircraft and helicopters of the latest generation, even in a storm. Under the take-off deck and in optimized control superstructures, the latest nuclear power plant, effective missile and electronic weapons will be placed. The use of missile weapons is one of the most interesting moments in determining the appearance of the future ship.

Four S-500 Prometheus modules will be responsible for the ship's air defense. With such a quartet, the aircraft carrier's air defense will be able to simultaneously detect, fire and strike up to 10 aerodynamic or supersonic ballistic targets at once at a distance of 800 kilometers. Air defense targets can be airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, medium-range missiles, supersonic cruise missiles and intercontinental ballistic missile warheads, as well as objects flying at speeds up to 7,000 meters per second. Plus, the aircraft carrier will be equipped with two anti-torpedo protection systems.

The single MiG-29K and the two-seater MiG-29KUB (fighters of the 4 ++ generation) will solve the problem of air defense and gaining air superiority, hitting targets with guided precision weapons at any time of the day and in any weather.

Placement of anti-ship missiles on the ship (on a basic permanent basis) is not planned. But this by no means prohibits the placement on an aircraft carrier (according to good tradition), 4-8 20-foot removable containers with the Club-K missile system, or hypersonic anti-ship missiles Zircon. Placing 8 containers with Club-K on board an aircraft carrier means that it is armed with 32 high-precision attack cruise missiles. Container Club-K - will ensure the defeat of both surface and ground targets. The complex is a modification of the well-known Caliber missile system. Inside the containers of the complex, launchers with 3M-14, X-35 or 3M-54 missiles are hidden, capable of hitting both land and large surface targets at a long distance. For example, the 3M-54 missile is capable of destroying even an aircraft carrier, and the flight range of the KR 3M14 with nuclear warheads / FBCHs is 2650 and 1600 km, respectively.

The task of collecting information about the enemy and control over the air, ground and surface space, as well as the guidance of aviation to detected targets will be provided by a radar control point and a radar patrol and guidance point based on the Yak-44E aircraft. Ka-32 / Ka-27 helicopters armed with torpedoes, depth charges, missiles and mines will fight the submarines.

The ship's hull will be optimized so that water resistance will decrease by 20-30%. The latter will provide significant energy savings and the ability to increase the speed and autonomy of the ship. Note that the movement of a vessel with a resistance of 30% less than that of a traditional hull contour means that with conventional power engineering it will be possible to have a cruising range of 30% longer and fuel consumption will also decrease.

As we can see, the best developments of the domestic and Western schools for creating ships of this class will be applied on the Storm. The project pays great attention to the possibilities of providing aeronautics for carrier-based aviation. For example, according to the project, the maximum width of the flight deck will exceed 80 meters, the composition of the double deck is taken over from the UK. At the same time, it is planned to create a smooth flight deck.

An innovation is the improved design of the aircraft carrier's hull, which significantly reduces water resistance and increases the level of its economy and seaworthiness.

The military power of the ship is greatly enhanced by the deployment and use of an early warning and guidance aircraft (AWACS) on it.

In general, it can be noted that the Storm will become a multipurpose aircraft carrier that will serve as a sea airport. During the USSR carrier aircraft carried out anti-submarine, defensive, and air defense missions, and the aircraft carrier was positioned as a military cruiser designed for sea attacks over long distances.

TTX aircraft carrier Storm:

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There are many large aircraft carriers in the world at the moment. To carry out its tasks, the modern army simply needs mobility, which is why aircraft carriers are so needed, on which dozens of combat aircraft and thousands of people can be transported. Some of the most large aircraft carriers in the world are operated to this day, while others can only be seen in museums.

It can be said with absolute precision that the ship "Nimitz" is the largest aircraft carrier in the world. Its length is 333 meters. Thanks to its wide flight deck, this giant can accommodate approximately 90 aircraft (including 64 military aircraft designed to destroy objects in the air and 26 helicopters). The Nimitz's crew numbers more than 3 thousand people, the bulk of them are flight personnel, and 70 people are in the command staff. Almost all aircraft carriers of this series are similar in technical parameters, design solutions and combat equipment. By the way, the aircraft carrier Nimitz can be operated for twenty years without changing the energy carrier of the power plant. This means that it can be safely sent for this long period on a long journey. The first aircraft carrier of this series was launched back in 1975.

It is impossible not to mention the power plant of the aircraft carrier, consisting of the main and auxiliary systems. The first, in turn, consists of two water reactors feeding two rotary motors each with a rotational movement of the rotor. The main difference between such a reactor is that simple pressurized water plays the role of a coolant and a moderator. At the moment, this type of reactors is considered the most efficient, and therefore very popular all over the world. If you combine the power of four turbines, you can get a real 280 thousand horsepower monster at the output. The auxiliary system consists of four diesel engines, each with a capacity of 10, 7 thousand horses. The aircraft carrier Nimitz is equipped with powerful weapons to defend against enemies attacking both from the air and from the water. It has three air defense systems, four anti-aircraft guns with a caliber of 22 mm, two installations for firing torpedoes (caliber 324 mm).

Another largest aircraft carrier worthy of inclusion in our rating. With a length of 342.3 meters, it surpasses all warships. But it's not just its length that sets this aircraft carrier apart from others - it was the first to be powered by a nuclear fission chain reaction. The plans of the US military developers included the release of 5 more such aircraft carriers, but since the creation of the first vessel took more than $ 459 million, they changed their minds to continue this line. That is why the overly expensive Terrier surface-to-air missile system was not installed on the aircraft carrier; instead, an American RIM-7 Sea Sparrow guided missile with a shorter range was installed, and later other complexes were added.

It is curious that one load of nuclear fuel is enough to provide smooth operation ship for thirteen years. During this period, it can cover about a million miles.

It took about three years to create the giant, and in 1957 the construction of an aircraft carrier began. Five years later, the ship set off for its first true naval baptism under the leadership of Captain Vincent DePo. The Enterprise made its debut military operation during the Cuban missile crisis. In 1965, the warship was used in Southeast Asia, where he took part in the Vietnam War. By the way, at that moment he was the first aircraft carrier with a nuclear installation to take part in hostilities. During the same period, "Enterprise" set a world record - within 24 hours, 165 combat units were lifted from the aircraft carrier.

The Enterprise also had a chance to survive the accident - not far from the Zuni rocket, 127 millimeters in size, there was a self-propelled, trackless ground transport vehicledesigned for towing vehicle... It was its high-temperature exhaust gases that caused the rocket to self-start, as a result of which it crashed into the fuel tank on board the aircraft, and this has already led to a fuel spill. The consequences were global - aerial bombs exploded, more than twenty crew members were killed, almost 350 were injured, fifteen aircraft were destroyed. The total damage was more than one hundred million US dollars. By the way, the giant himself was not hurt at all.

In the 1980s, the Enterprise overhauled its nuclear reactor and removed the Hughes Aircraft SCANFAR ship radar. At the beginning of the new century, the aircraft carrier took part in the military operation conducted by the United States and Great Britain against Iraq, "Desert Fox", and it was also used to expel the Taliban from the Afghan lands. Then he returned to the waters of the Persian Gulf, where he provided air support to the Americans during the hostilities against Iraq. Several years ago, the Enterprise re-established itself in the Persian Gulf.

Among the aircraft carriers in Europe and Asia, a ship stands out, named in honor of the great admiral of the USSR Ministry of Finance, Kuznetsov. This giant is considered one of the most powerful and largest.

The development of the aircraft carrier began in 1982. The giant's technical performance promised to make it an advanced aircraft carrier. The idea was to make the deck lengthened so that the Su-25 and Su-27 fighters could take off. The Admiral Kuznetsov warship was the first to use an optical landing system on the Luna aircraft carrier.

The length of "Admiral Kutuzov" is a little more than three hundred meters, which allows it to accommodate 25 helicopters and the same number of aircraft. Judging by the combat and radar equipment, our aircraft carrier will certainly take its place among the leaders. On its deck are twelve Granite launchers, eight Kortikov, six AK-630M artillery mounts and four Dagger mounts. Thanks to such powerful armament, the aircraft carrier can fire uninterrupted for a long time. At the moment, on the operating aircraft carrier, it has been decided to completely replace the Su-33 fighters with the MiG-29K, and in the future to start overhaul.