World's Largest Warship, world record set by the USS Gerald R. Ford

November 4, 2025

Norfolk, Virginia, United States--The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is over 1,090 feet long, has a displacement of around 100,000 tons, and can carry up to 90 aircraft, setting the world records for being the World's Largest Warship and the World's largest aircraft carrier, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

Photos: Facebook/USS Gerald R. Ford - CVN 78

"The world's largest warship is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It is over 1,090 feet long, has a displacement of around 100,000 tons, and can carry up to 90 aircraft.

"The ship is equipped with advanced technology, including an electromagnetic catapult system, and requires a smaller crew than previous carriers."

Size and capacity: The USS Gerald R. Ford is the largest warship ever built, with a length of over 333 meters (1,090 feet) and a beam of 78 meters (256 feet) at its widest point. It can accommodate up to 90 aircraft and a crew of around 4,500 personnel.
Key features: It is the first in its class of carriers and features a new propulsion plant, an all-new electrical distribution system, and an electromagnetic aircraft launch system. This system allows for more frequent launches and the ability to handle a wider range of aircraft weights. The ship also has a more modern and automated interior, with features like a touchscreen-operated bridge and reduced manning requirements.
Operational status: The USS Gerald R. Ford is officially part of the U.S. Navy fleet and conducts ongoing operations, including flight training and patrols in various regions like the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic

"USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the lead ship of her class. The ship is named after the 38th president of the United States, Gerald Ford, whose World War II naval service included combat duty aboard the light aircraft carrier Monterey in the Pacific Theater.

"Construction began on 11 August 2005, when Northrop Grumman held a ceremonial steel cut for a 15-ton plate that forms part of a side shell unit of the carrier.[18] The keel of Gerald R. Ford was laid down on 13 November 2009. She was christened on 9 November 2013.[5] Gerald R. Ford entered the fleet replacing the decommissioned USS Enterprise (CVN-65), which ended her 51 years of active service in December 2012.

"Originally scheduled for delivery in 2015, Gerald R. Ford was delivered to the Navy on 31 May 2017 and formally commissioned by President Donald Trump on 22 July 2017. She departed Naval Station Norfolk on her first deployment on 2 May 2023. As of August 2025, she is the world's largest aircraft carrier and the largest warship ever constructed." (Wikipedia)

"Gerald R. Ford is the first of a class of aircraft carriers intended to offer significant performance improvements over the previous Nimitz class. Gerald R. Ford is equipped with an AN/SPY-3 and AN/SPY-4 active electronically scanned array multi-function, multi-band radar, with the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) Mk2 Baseline 10 of the Mod 6 variant command and control system.

"Its island, shorter in length and 20 feet (6.1 m) taller than that of the Nimitz class, is set 140 feet (43 m) farther aft and 3 feet (0.91 m) closer to the edge of the ship. Replacing traditional steam catapults, the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) will launch all non-VTOL carrier aircraft." (Wikipedia)

"USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the lead ship in the Ford-class of aircraft carrier, the first new class in more than 40 years, and will begin the phased replacement of Nimitz-class carriers," the official website says.

"CVN-78 honors the 38th president of the United States and pays tribute to his lifetime of service in the Navy, in the U.S. government and to the nation. During World War II, Ford attained the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy, serving on the light carrier USS Monterey (CVL 26). Ford became president and served in the country’s highest office from 1974-1977.

"The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the most capable, adaptable, and lethal combat platform in the world, maintaining the Navy's capacity to project power on a global scale through sustained operations at sea."

"Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913 – December 26, 2006) was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party, Ford assumed the presidency after the resignation of Richard Nixon, under whom he had served as the 40th vice president from 1973 to 1974 following the resignation of Spiro Agnew. Prior to that, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949 to 1973.

"Ford was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan, where he played for the university football team, before eventually attending Yale Law School. Afterward, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1942 to 1946.

"Ford began his political career in 1949 as the U.S. representative from Michigan's 5th congressional district, serving in this capacity for nearly 25 years, the final nine of them as the House minority leader. In December 1973, two months after the resignation of Vice President Agnew, Ford became the first person appointed to the vice presidency under the terms of the 25th Amendment. After President Nixon resigned in August 1974, Ford immediately assumed the presidency." (Wikipedia)

"The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), has been conducting night flight operations in the Mediterranean Sea as part of its ongoing deployment with Carrier Strike Group 12, according to the U.S. Navy.

"Photographs released by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) show Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Aircraft Handling) 1st Class Sammie Smith directing an F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 31 during night operations on 10 October 2025. The aircraft were launched and recovered in darkness as the carrier continued its routine flight training and operational patrols across the U.S. Sixth Fleet’s area of responsibility," The UK Defense Journal reports.

"The Gerald R. Ford, the first of its class, represents the most advanced and powerful carrier in service, designed to increase sortie generation rates, improve crew efficiency, and enhance the U.S. Navy’s ability to project air power globally. At over 1,090 feet long and displacing around 100,000 tons, it remains the largest warship ever built."

"The world's largest aircraft carrier is the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), a United States Navy supercarrier.

"It is the largest warship ever built by displacement, stretching over 1,000 feet long, and is equipped with advanced technologies like the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS). (AI Overview)

Size and displacement: The USS Gerald R. Ford displaces over 100,000 tonnes and is over 1,000 feet long.
Technology: It features advanced systems like EMALS and an advanced arresting gear, which use electromagnetic motors instead of steam pistons for smoother and safer aircraft launches and landings.
Power: The carrier is powered by two A1B nuclear reactors, which are more powerful and efficient than those on previous classes.
Crew and capacity: The USS Gerald R. Ford can accommodate up to 90 aircraft and requires fewer personnel to operate due to increased automation.
Status: It was commissioned in 2017 and is the lead ship of its class.

"The US Navy’s USS Gerald R Ford (CVN79) is the largest aircraft carrier and largest warship in the world. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and commissioned on 22 July 2017, it displaces over 100,000 tons at full load on overall dimensions of 333 by 78 m (1,092 by 256 ft). It can carry upwards of 75 aircraft and uses a new electromagnetic launch system," the Guinness World Records says.

"Two nuclear reactors drive steam turbines and four shafts for a speed of over 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). Its maximum crew of 4,539 persons is some 700 less than the preceding Nimitz class. John F Kennedy (CVN80), second of a proposed class of 10, is due to be commissioned in 2024.: