USS Gerald R. Ford vs. Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning: how do they compare?

Overall, the US has more than a century of experience deploying aircraft carriers, and the USS Gerald R. Ford outpaces China’s refurbished Soviet ship. That said, the Liaoning is a strong aircraft carrier. Even though the Ford runs on nuclear power and the Liaoning runs on coal, they still achieve similar top speeds. There are several advantages to diesel aircraft carriers over nuclear aircraft carriers, but one advantage of nuclear power is that it allows the Ford to stay at sea for long periods of time and has a longer range.

The Ford isn’t going anywhere without Carrier Strike Group 12, which includes a missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers. The Liaoning also has a Carrier Strike Group, which often operates in the East China Sea and other Pacific waters. The CSG consists of five destroyers, a frigate and a fast combat support ship. However, remember that the Ford can carry at least thirty more planes than the Liaoning.

Ultimately, the Liaoning holds its own as a warship, but the USS Ford rules the world. However, the People’s Republic of China is catching up. China commissioned the Shandong in 2019 and the Fujian in 2022. While both ships show significant improvements over the Liaoning, neither ships are nuclear-powered like the Ford.