In 2025, aircraft carriers remain the pinnacle of naval supremacy, symbolizing a nation’s ability to project power across oceans and skies. These floating airbases, capable of launching and recovering fixed-wing aircraft, are engineering marvels that blend advanced technology with strategic might. As geopolitical tensions simmer—from the South China Sea to the Arctic Circle—the number and capability of aircraft carriers define superpowers in 2025. According to the latest assessments in 2025, 11 countries operate these behemoths, with the United States leading unchallenged, followed by rising powers like China and India. This article explores the aircraft carrier fleets of these nations in 2025, detailing their numbers, classes, and strategic roles. With a total of just over 25 active carriers worldwide in 2025, the distribution underscores a concentrated naval hierarchy, where innovation and investment in 2025 continue to shape global security dynamics.
United States: 11 Carriers – The Unrivaled Blue-Water Dominance in 2025
The United States Navy boasts 11 nuclear-powered supercarriers in 2025, a fleet that eclipses all others combined and solidifies America’s role as the preeminent maritime force. In 2025, these vessels—primarily Nimitz-class and the newer Gerald R. Ford-class—displace over 100,000 tons each and carry up to 90 aircraft, including F-35C fighters and E-2D Hawkeyes. The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), commissioned in 2017, exemplifies 2025 advancements with electromagnetic catapults and laser defenses, enhancing operational tempo by 30% over predecessors.
In 2025, the U.S. carrier strike groups (CSGs) are deployed across seven fleets, from the Indo-Pacific to the Mediterranean, deterring adversaries and supporting allies. The ongoing construction of USS Enterprise (CVN-80), set for delivery in late 2025, promises to extend this dominance into the 2030s. With a $13 billion price tag per ship in 2025 dollars, these carriers embody U.S. commitment to freedom of navigation, though maintenance costs strain budgets amid fiscal debates in 2025. No other nation matches this scale, making the U.S. the undisputed carrier king in 2025.
China: 3 Carriers – Asia’s Rising Naval Titan in 2025
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operates three aircraft carriers in 2025, marking a dramatic ascent from zero two decades prior. The Liaoning (Type 001), a refitted Soviet Kuznetsov-class, serves as a training platform, while the Shandong (Type 002) conducts routine operations in the East China Sea. The crown jewel, Fujian (Type 003), commissioned in 2024, features catapults for J-15 fighters and represents China’s leap to blue-water capability in 2025.
In 2025, these 60,000-80,000-ton carriers bolster Beijing’s claims in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, with Fujian’s ski-jump evolution to electromagnetic launch systems enabling heavier payloads. China’s carrier program, fueled by $10 billion annual investments in 2025, includes two more under construction, signaling ambitions for six by 2030. Amid U.S.-China rivalry, these vessels enhance deterrence but face challenges like engine reliability and pilot training in 2025.
India: 2 Carriers – Balancing Tradition and Modernity in 2025
India’s two aircraft carriers in 2025 reflect its strategic pivot toward the Indian Ocean, countering Chinese expansion. INS Vikramaditya, a refurbished Admiral Gorshkov, and INS Vikrant (IAC-1), India’s first indigenous carrier commissioned in 2022, each displace 40,000 tons and operate MiG-29K and Tejas fighters. In 2025, Vikrant’s STOBAR configuration supports 30 aircraft, bolstering patrols from the Andaman Islands to the Arabian Sea.
India’s $5 billion carrier investment in 2025 underscores self-reliance, with IAC-2 under construction for 2028 delivery. These assets enable power projection against piracy and regional threats, though integration with Rafale-M jets remains a 2025 focus. India’s carriers symbolize emerging multipolarity in 2025.
Italy: 2 Carriers – Mediterranean Guardians in 2025
Italy fields two light carriers in 2025, the Cavour and Trieste, emphasizing expeditionary operations in the Mediterranean. The 27,000-ton Cavour, commissioned in 2009, carries Harriers and helicopters, while the Trieste (LHD) supports F-35Bs for STOVL ops. In 2025, these vessels underpin NATO missions, from Libya evacuations to anti-smuggling in 2025.
With a modest fleet, Italy’s $2 billion modernization in 2025 enhances interoperability, positioning it as Europe’s agile carrier operator amid migration crises.
Japan: 2 Carriers – Defensive Evolution in 2025
Japan’s two Izumo-class “helicopter destroyers” in 2025 function as light carriers, modified for F-35B operations amid rising North Korean threats. Displacing 27,000 tons, JS Izumo and Kaga feature reinforced decks and heat-resistant coatings, enabling 14 stealth fighters each. In 2025, these conversions, costing $1.5 billion, align with Japan’s post-constitutional reinterpretation for offensive capabilities.
Patrolling the East China Sea, they deter aggression while hosting U.S. Marines, marking Japan’s shift from pacifism in 2025.
United Kingdom: 2 Carriers – Global Reach Restored in 2025
The Royal Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers in 2025, HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales, restore Britain’s post-Falklands prowess. At 65,000 tons, they carry 40 F-35Bs, supporting strikes from the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea. In 2025, Carrier Strike Group deployments, including 2025’s Indo-Pacific tour, affirm AUKUS ties.
Despite crew shortages, $4 billion upgrades in 2025 ensure drone integration, keeping the UK relevant in a multipolar world.
France: 1 Carrier – Nuclear-Powered Prestige in 2025
France’s Charles de Gaulle, the only non-U.S. nuclear carrier in 2025, displaces 42,000 tons and launches Rafales from catapults. In 2025, it patrols the Indo-Pacific, enforcing sanctions and aiding allies, with PANG replacement planned for 2038.
Its $3 billion refit in 2025 extends service, embodying France’s independent defense posture.
Russia: 1 Carrier – Struggling Giant in 2025
Russia’s sole carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, remains active in 2025 despite chronic issues, operating MiG-29Ks from its 55,000-ton deck. Refits delayed to 2025 limit deployments, focusing on Arctic patrols amid Ukraine tensions.
A new carrier is conceptualized, but sanctions hinder progress in 2025.
Spain: 1 Carrier – Amphibious Flexibility in 2025
Spain’s Juan Carlos I, a 27,000-ton LHD/carrier, supports Harriers and helicopters for NATO ops in 2025. Versatile for humanitarian aid, it exemplifies Spain’s balanced navy.
Thailand: 1 Carrier – Southeast Asia’s Unique Asset in 2025
Thailand’s Chakri Naruebet, a 11,000-ton light carrier, trains with Spanish Harriers in 2025, aiding disaster response in the Andaman Sea.
Turkey: 1 Carrier – Neo-Ottoman Ambitions in 2025
Turkey’s TCG Anadolu, a 27,000-ton LHD, operates Bayraktar drones and plans F-35Bs in 2025, projecting power in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Conclusion: Carriers in a Contested 2025 World
In 2025, aircraft carriers delineate naval hierarchies, with the U.S. leading a field where China and others close gaps through innovation and investment. These 25+ vessels, costing billions, enable air superiority but face cyber threats and fiscal pressures. As climate change opens Arctic routes and AI transforms warfare, carriers evolve or risk obsolescence. Ultimately, in 2025, they remind us that sea power remains key to global stability, urging cooperation amid competition.
