The United States currently operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. These are large fleet carriers capable of carrying around 80 fixed-wing aircraft each, making the U.S. Navy's carrier fleet the largest and most capable in the world
. Key points about the U.S. aircraft carrier fleet:
- All 11 carriers are nuclear-powered, providing long endurance at sea without refueling
- The fleet includes ten Nimitz-class carriers and one Gerald R. Ford-class carrier, with the Ford class being the newest and most advanced
- The carriers serve as the centerpiece of U.S. naval power projection globally
- There is a federal mandate that the U.S. Navy maintain a minimum of 11 operational aircraft carriers to ensure sufficient power projection capabilities
In addition to these 11 large fleet carriers, the U.S. Navy also operates several amphibious assault ships that can function as light carriers for certain aircraft types, but these are not counted in the total of 11 fleet carriers
. In summary, the U.S. has 11 active nuclear-powered aircraft carriers as of 2025, maintaining a dominant position in global naval aviation capability.
