France remains the only European country that has challenged the Americans.
If you look at the world map of naval power, almost all countries operate ships and aircraft carriers with conventional power plants. However, only a very limited number of countries have mastered the technology of nuclear aircraft carriers — enormous ships that have essentially become floating airfields and can remain at sea for years without refueling.
The naval forces of the United States undoubtedly dominate in this specialized field. The American fleet has 11 nuclear aircraft carriers, including both classic Nimitz-class ships and the latest Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. These form the backbone of the U.S. maritime power projection, providing the capability to deploy fighter jets, long-range radar detection aircraft, and perform auxiliary tasks anywhere in the world.
Ships such as USS Ronald Reagan, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and USS George Washington are part of this group. They regularly undertake long deployments as part of carrier strike groups, serving as floating bases with global reach and enormous autonomy.
The nuclear power plant allows aircraft carriers to remain at sea for extended periods — their autonomy is limited only by food supplies and crew endurance, not fuel.
France remains the only European country with an operational nuclear aircraft carrier — Charles de Gaulle. Commissioned in 2001, it became the only aircraft carrier of its kind in Europe and provides France with the capability to maintain an expeditionary naval presence from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.
Recently, French defense authorities approved plans to create a next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which is expected to replace Charles de Gaulle by the end of the 2030s. The new ship will be larger and more technologically advanced, underscoring France's unwavering commitment to the concept of aircraft carrier power projection.
Today, China is rapidly building its first nuclear aircraft carrier in history, which is expected to be ready by 2030.
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