Aircraft carriers as a tool of East-West rivalry
Today, aircraft carriers are not only a symbol of military power, but also an effective tool for projecting naval power. Their importance grew especially during the Cold War, when they were a key element in the East-West rivalry. Since their inception, aircraft carriers have become an indispensable tool for highly mobile military operations. They allow the deployment of air power in the open sea, far from land bases, which is a major advantage in conflicts where access to land infrastructure may be limited or even non-existent. Today, aircraft carriers are used not only for combat purposes, but also for humanitarian aid, diplomacy and other crisis situations.
The history of aircraft carriers dates back to the early 20th century, when the idea of putting aircraft on board ships was first experimented with. In 1910, Eugene Ely made the first take-off from the deck of the USS Birmingham, opening up new possibilities for the emergence of naval aviation. However, it wasn't until 1918 that the first dedicated aircraft carrier was built, the British HMS Argus, which had been converted from a merchant ship. This marked a fundamental change in naval tactics, as aircraft aboard the ship enabled a new form of mobile warfare. Other significant steps in aircraft carrier development followed, particularly in the 1920s. The United States and Japan quickly came up with their own designs, such as the USS Langley and the Japanese Hōsho, which demonstrated the potential of aircraft carriers for military operations on the high seas.
The main motivation for the development of aircraft carriers was the need to provide air support in areas where access to land bases was not possible. In the period between the world wars and as naval powers concentrated on controlling the oceans, it became apparent that aircraft could provide a strategic advantage in areas where traditional military forces would have had limited capabilities. Aircraft carriers thus enabled the Air Force to operate in areas remote from land-based infrastructure, increasing the operational reach of military forces. Another reason for the emergence of aircraft carriers was the ability of these vessels to conduct a wide range of operations that included reconnaissance, protection of naval convoys, and even bombardment of land-based infrastructure. The aforementioned deployment capabilities were especially crucial at a time when naval warfare began to shift to wider oceanic spaces and conflicts were no longer fought only off the coast. Aircraft carriers became flexible and effective tools for projecting military power, which was critical in controlling the seas and oceans.
Until the beginning of World War II, battleships dominated the seas, representing symbols of great power status on the seas of the world. These massive vessels with heavy artillery batteries were considered the core and foundation of naval fleets. However, at the Battle of Midway in 1942, aircraft carriers proved to be a new force that could change the outcome of naval conflict, as the "aircraft carriers" were able to destroy enemy fleets without having to make direct contact. After this battle, battleships gradually became obsolete and aircraft carriers began to dominate as the main instrument of naval power. The transition from battleships to aircraft carriers not only meant a change in naval warfare tactics, but also an adjustment in the entire military doctrine of the naval powers, which had to rethink the role of large vessels in contemporary conflicts.
During the Cold War, aircraft carriers played a key role in the geopolitical rivalry between the US and the USSR. The United States used them as a major instrument of power projection, allowing it to respond to crises and conflicts around the world. U.S. carrier fleets were deployed in different regions, allowing the U.S. to maintain its dominance on the world's oceans. The presence of aircraft carriers was also a tool of diplomatic pressure, as it allowed the US to intervene in conflicts and directly influence political events in different regions. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, preferred a different approach during the Cold War. It focused on developing defensive strategies that emphasised submarines and anti-ship missiles. Soviet attempts to build aircraft carriers, such as the Kiev class and the Admiral Kuznetsov, were constrained by budgetary problems, a different military-political doctrine and, last but not least, the absence of the necessary technology. The Soviet Union saw more value in underwater forces, which offered the advantage of stealth and powerful missile arsenals for overwhelming enemy destruction.
Aircraft carrier categories
Currently, aircraft carriers are divided into several categories based on size, displacement, air vehicle capacity and propulsion type. The largest and most powerful are the super aircraft carriers with a displacement of around 100 000 tonnes. These colossi, usually nuclear-powered, allow continuous operation for several months without the need for refuelling. They are capable of carrying up to 90 or more air assets, including fighters, bombers, helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft. A typical example is the US Nimitz class, equipped with state-of-the-art radar and flight systems, which is used for long-term military operations and geopolitical pressure. A notch smaller are the medium carriers, with displacements between 40,000 and 70,000 tons. The ships, powered by conventional engines, can hold 30 to 50 aircraft and are designed primarily for regional military operations and support of allied forces. Representative of this category is the British Queen Elizabeth class operating modern F-35B fighters. Another category is light aircraft carriers with displacements ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 tons. Their capacity is around 10 to 20 aircraft, with a particular emphasis on the operation of helicopters and vertical take-off aircraft. An interesting example is the Japanese Izumo class, originally conceived as a helicopter carrier but newly adapted to operate F-35B fighters. Sometimes included in this category are helicopter-landing craft that have been re-equipped with vertical take-off aircraft. The trend mentioned above tells us that a renaissance of light carriers is underway.
It is important to dwell on nuclear propulsion, which has revolutionised operational capabilities in the aircraft carrier world. Nuclear reactors allow 'aircraft carriers' to operate virtually indefinitely, greatly increasing their strategic value. The first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, was commissioned in 1961 and paved the way for the next generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. With these technologies, aircraft carriers do not have to rely on regular refueling, giving them greater flexibility and greater operational range. Thus, nuclear propulsion not only improves the efficiency of aircraft carriers, but also ensures that they will play a significant role in geopolitical decisions.
States operating aircraft carriers
The United States operates the largest fleet of aircraft carriers in the world, allowing it to maintain a rapid and effective military presence in a variety of regions. This fleet includes not only the aircraft carriers themselves (11 pieces designated CVN-68 through 78), but also, escort vessels such as destroyers, submarines, and logistics ships that provide support for large-scale operations. Carrier Strike Groups (carrier strike groups) are able to respond to crisis situations in a relatively short time and to show military strength on the international scene. In addition to conventional aircraft carriers, the United States operates a strong fleet of helicopter landing ships capable of conducting amphibious operations and supporting air operations with V-22 Osprey convertibles and F-35B aircraft. Among the most advanced is the America class , whose vessels USS America (LHA-6) and USS Tripoli (LHA-7) are optimized for short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft operations. The older Wasp class includes seven units that combine Marine Corps transport capabilities with air support. These ships participate in military operations as well as humanitarian missions and crisis intervention.
Western countries, apart from the US, especially NATO members and their allies, also have modern aircraft carriers, but they do not reach the same level of capability as the US ones. The UK operates two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. Each of these ships has a displacement of approximately 65,000 tons and a capacity of up to 65 aircraft, including F-35B fighters. In the future, Britain plans to upgrade flight decks and air defence systems. France has one nuclear-powered aircraft carrier , the Charles de Gaulle, with a displacement of 38 000 tonnes and a capacity of up to 40 aircraft, mainly Rafale M fighters and E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft. It is also the only "nuclear aircraft carrier" built outside the US. Thanks to its nuclear propulsion, it is capable of long-term deployment without refuelling and regularly operates in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. At the same time, France is planning a new PA-Ng class nuclear aircraft carrier of over 75,000 tons displacement, to be launched by 2038, with higher capacity and more advanced systems. At the same time, the French Navy boasts three Mistral-class helicopter landing ships. Italy, by contrast, has to make do with the Cavour aircraft carrier, with a displacement of 27 100 tonnes and a capacity of up to 20 aircraft, including F-35B fighters. In addition, it operates the light aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, with a full displacement of 14 150 tonnes, which can accommodate 16 AV-8B Harrier IIs. Spain has a multi-role ship , the Juan Carlos I, with a displacement of 27 000 tonnes and a capacity of up to 25 aircraft, including Harriers and future F-35Bs. The ship combines the functions of an aircraft carrier and an amphibious assault ship and Spain plans to modernise it and replace it in the future with a unit with a higher capacity and modern systems. Australia operates two Canberra-class multi-role landing ships - HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide. These vessels, inspired by the Spanish ship Juan Carlos I, have a displacement of 27 500 tonnes and a capacity of up to 18 helicopters or vertical take-off aircraft. Australia does not currently operate the F-35Bs, but is exploring acquisition options for future expansion of the ships' aviation capabilities. Japan, despite its pacifist constitution, operates two Izumo-class ships (27 000 tonnes displacement, 28 aircraft capacity) and three Hyuga-class ships (19 000 tonnes displacement, 11 helicopter-only capacity for now) that have been converted to operate F-35B fighters. South Korea has been expanding its naval capabilities in recent years and in the process operates the ROKS Dokdo ( LPH-6111) class helicopter landing ship Dokdo with a displacement of 18,800 tons and a capacity of 15 helicopters and its sister ship Marado with a full displacement of 19,000 tons. South Korea is also planning to develop a CVX-class light carrier to enable the operation of F-35B fighters and strengthen South Korean naval power in regional rivalry.
Some states that cannot be clearly classified as either Western or Eastern bloc are building their maritime capabilities with an emphasis on regional influence and self-sufficiency. These countries often combine military, humanitarian and political use of aircraft carriers and landing craft. The first example is Turkey, which recently commissioned the TCG Anadolu, a 27 000 tonne displacement ship with a capacity for up to 12 aircraft (including drones and vertical take-off aircraft). The ship is designed to operate Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles and planned light fighters. It is demonstrating its desire for regional independence and its ability to operate in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. India currently operates two aircraft carriers - INS Vikramaditya with a displacement of 44 470 tonnes (capacity of 22 aircraft) and the indigenous INS Vikrant with a displacement of 40 000 tonnes. It is planning a third aircraft carrier with a displacement of around 65,000 tonnes and a modern EMALS catapult system, which would enable it to operate a wider range of aircraft. Egypt owns two Mistral-class ships of 21 300 tonnes displacement, each capable of carrying up to 16 helicopters (Ka-27, Ka-29, Ka-52). It plans to modernise them and expand their air capabilities with light combat drones. Brazil has long aspired to operate its own aircraft carrier, and after decommissioning its old São Paulo unit (originally the French Foch), it has focused on developing multipurpose vessels. It currently operates the helicopter landing ship NAM Atlântico, which is the former British HMS Ocean, with a displacement of 21,760 tons and a capacity of up to 18 helicopters. Today, this flagship is classified as a multi-role aircraft carrier.
Non-Western powers, particularly in Asia, are investing in aircraft carriers and dropships as a means of projecting power, protecting maritime interests and counterbalancing Western influence. They serve both military and political objectives with a focus on regional dominance. China owns three aircraft carriers - the Liaoning (60,000 tonne displacement, 40 aircraft capacity), the Shandong (70,000 tonne displacement, 44 aircraft capacity) and the new Fujian (80,000 tonne displacement, 50 aircraft capacity), which is equipped with an advanced EMALS system. China is also planning to build a fourth nuclear aircraft carrier with a displacement of over 90 000 tonnes, which would significantly increase its capabilities. In addition to heavy carriers, it is also building Type 075 and Type 076 dropships. Thanks to these projects, China has the largest navy in the world and is also an aspirant to be the number one naval superpower. Russia operates the Admiral Kuznetsov, with a displacement of 55 000 tonnes and a capacity of 40 aircraft, but it is often out of service due to technical problems. The planned Storm class (80,000 tons displacement) or Project 11430E Kapustnyak has been put on hold due to financial difficulties, so Russia is focusing for now on building two smaller multipurpose Project 23900 ships with a capacity of 16 helicopters. Quite interesting, however, is the Russian light aircraft carrier design called Varan. These ships can carry 24 multirole aircraft, six helicopters and up to 20 UAVs. Iran is working on alternative carriers for helicopters and especially drones, which it is converting from unused container ships. The first unit of this type has already been launched and is named Nader Mahdavi, after a fighter killed by the Americans in 1987.
Aircraft carriers and dropships are becoming a key tool of geopolitics not only for Western powers but also for states seeking regional influence or global recognition. The variety of designs-from heavy supercarriers to lightweight, vertical-launch aircraft carriers-reflects the needs of individual countries to respond to modern security challenges and adapt to specific regional conditions.
