AIRCRAFT CARRIERS FROM THE FUTURE

Four of the world's 10 largest navies are preparing for new classes of aircraft carriers.
The UK is getting ready to take a huge leap forward with the HMS Queen Elizabeth, the People's Republic of China is moving ahead with the Varyag, India is taking onboard the $2.34bn Admiral Gorshkov carrier and the US is changing its tactics with the Gerald Ford-class.
Royalty for the UK
When it comes to new carriers, the UK is arguably preparing to take the largest step forward. When it enters service, probably sometime in 2015, the HMS Queen Elizabeth will be the largest ship in the Royal Navy's long, long history.
"The British learned a lot in the Falklands war of 1982 where they saw the limitations of small aircraft carriers," Eric Wertheim, author and editor of the US Naval Institute's Guide to Combat Fleets of the World,says.
At 65,000 tons and just a bit smaller than an American Nimitz-class carrier, the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers (there will be two in total) are 284m long and can carry up to 50 aircraft. Replacing the Invincible class, the BAE-designed ships will use cheaper, integrated full-electric propulsion with Rolls-Royce Marine Trent MT30MW gas turbines.
"When it enters service, probably sometime in 2015, the HMS Queen Elizabeth will be the largest ship in the Royal Navy's long history."While few specifics regarding technology are yet known, the ship is expected to far outclass the Invincible, and offer the Royal Navy a strategic push forward in naval warfare.