The biggest aircraft carrier in the world is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78).
It is the lead ship of a new class of “supercarriers” for the US Navy and holds the title for the largest warship ever constructed in terms of displacement and dimensions.
Here is just how massive this ship is:
Key Dimensions
- Length: 1,106 feet (337 meters)
- Visualization: If you stood it up on its end, it would be taller than the Eiffel Tower (which is 1,083 feet).
- Weight (Displacement): Approximately 100,000 long tons (fully loaded).
- Flight Deck Width: 256 feet (78 meters).
- Height: ~250 feet (76 meters) high, which is roughly equal to a 24-story building.
Capacity & Power
- Aircraft: It can carry 75 to 90 aircraft, including F-35C Lightning II fighters, F/A-18 Super Hornets, and helicopters.
- Crew: Despite being bigger than previous carriers, it actually carries fewer people (~4,500 crew) because extensive automation has replaced many manual tasks.
- Power: It is powered by two A1B nuclear reactors, which generate 3x the electrical power of previous carriers, allowing it to run for 20-25 years without refueling.
The Runner-Up
The previous record-holder was the USS Nimitz class (e.g., USS Nimitz, USS Ronald Reagan). The Gerald R. Ford is roughly the same weight as the Nimitz class but is slightly longer and features a wider flight deck and significantly more advanced technology, such as electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) instead of steam ones.
Would you like to know more about the types of aircraft it carries or how much it cost to build?
