Nimitz-class aircraft carrier

naval ship class

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is a class of supercarriers built for the U.S. Navy. Commissioned starting in 1975, these massive ships are powered by two nuclear reactors and can reach speeds comparable to earlier carriers, but with significantly extended operational capabilities due to increased aviation fuel storage. They carry approximately 90 aircraft and were the backbone of U.S. naval power projection for decades. The last Nimitz-class carrier was commissioned in 2009, succeeded by the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, which feature technological advancements like the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

warship
Large carriers
Beginning in 1975, 10 Nimitz-class carriers superseded the Enterprise. These 81,600-ton carriers were powered by only two nuclear reactors, yet they reached speeds comparable to the Enterprise, and their uranium cores needed replacement only once every 13 years. The smaller propulsion system created more room for the storage of…
Read More
Beginning in 1975, 10 Nimitz-class carriers superseded the Enterprise. These 81,600-ton carriers were powered by only two nuclear reactors, yet they reached speeds comparable to the Enterprise, and their uranium cores needed replacement only once every 13 years. The smaller propulsion system created more room for the storage of…
Read More

USS Gerald R. Ford
Development and construction
U.S. Nimitz-class carriers debuted in 1975, and—with an estimated service life of 50 years—they continued to form the backbone of U.S. naval force projection well into the 21st century. The last Nimitz carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), was commissioned in 2009, and…
Read More
U.S. Nimitz-class carriers debuted in 1975, and—with an estimated service life of 50 years—they continued to form the backbone of U.S. naval force projection well into the 21st century. The last Nimitz carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), was commissioned in 2009, and…
Read More