The US has a fleet of 11 nuclear-powered carriers, including two different classes, the Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford classes.
But the Ford-class only has one commissioned carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and it has yet to see combat, while the USS Nimitz was commissioned in 1975, and has seen plenty.
Here is a comparison of Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier vs Gerald R Ford Class Aircraft Carrier
Here is a comparison Video of Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers vs Gerald R Ford Class Aircraft Carriers
Related Article: Cities at Sea: How Aircraft Carriers Work
Gerald R Ford Class, US
A full load displacement of 100,000t makes the Gerald R Ford Class the world’s biggest aircraft carrier.
The first carrier in the class, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), was delivered to the US Navy in May 2017
while initial operational capability is anticipated to be achieved in 2020.
The CVN-78 features a 78m-wide flight deck equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system and advanced arresting gear.
The carrier has the capacity to carry more than 75 aircraft and can accommodate 4,539 personnel including ship’s company, air wing and other support staff.
Gerald R Ford is powered by two A1B nuclear reactors offering 250% more electrical capacity than the Nimitz Class.
The weaponry includes RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs) and Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS).
Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers
Nimitz Class, with a full load displacement of 97,000t
It is the world’s second-largest aircraft carrier.
The first carrier in the class was deployed in May 1975, while the tenth and last ship, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), was commissioned in January 2009.
Each carrier of the Nimitz Class is designed to operate for about 50 years, requiring just one mid-life overhaul.
The 332.8m-long supercarrier features a 4.5-acre flight deck capable of carrying more than 60 aircraft.
Each ship towers 20 stories above the water and can accommodate 3,000 to 3,200 ship’s company, 1,500 air wing and 500 other crew.
Nimitz Class is powered by two nuclear reactors providing a maximum speed of more than 30kt.
The Sea Sparrow missiles, Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS) and Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs) mounted aboard the vessel defend against potential threats.
The ships in Nimitz Class will be replaced by the Gerald R. Ford Class (CVN 78) next-generation aircraft carriers from 2020.
