Tugboats guide aircraft carrier INS Vikrant as it leaves the Cochin Shipyard after the launch ceremony in Kochi, India, on Monday, August 12, 2013. India's carrier is one-third the size of U.S. Navy's Nimitz class carriers.
Asian aircraft carrier race —
Tugboats guide aircraft carrier INS Vikrant as it leaves the Cochin Shipyard after the launch ceremony in Kochi, India, on Monday, August 12, 2013. India's carrier is one-third the size of U.S. Navy's Nimitz class carriers.
Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images
The U.S. aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush successfully catapult launches an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck for the first time. Analysts argue that drone technology poses a serious threat to carriers as a viable weapon of war.
Asian aircraft carrier race —
The U.S. aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush successfully catapult launches an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck for the first time. Analysts argue that drone technology poses a serious threat to carriers as a viable weapon of war.
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian Read Castillo/US Navy
China's first aircraft carrier, former Soviet carrier Varyag, docked after its handover to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning province in 2012. China says the aircraft carrier is a training vessel, but analysts say the ship is a valuable asset in its ambition to gain a blue-water navy.
Asian aircraft carrier race —
China's first aircraft carrier, former Soviet carrier Varyag, docked after its handover to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning province in 2012. China says the aircraft carrier is a training vessel, but analysts say the ship is a valuable asset in its ambition to gain a blue-water navy.
STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
A US F-18 fighter plane takes off from the deck of USS Kitty Hawk (CV63) aircraft carrier in the Bay of Bengal. Aircraft carriers have one of the highest attrition rates of any arm of the military. According to one study, between 1949 and 1988 the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps lost 12,000 aircraft and 8,500 air crew.
Asian aircraft carrier race —
A US F-18 fighter plane takes off from the deck of USS Kitty Hawk (CV63) aircraft carrier in the Bay of Bengal. Aircraft carriers have one of the highest attrition rates of any arm of the military. According to one study, between 1949 and 1988 the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps lost 12,000 aircraft and 8,500 air crew.
DESHAKALYAN CHOWDHURY/AFP/Getty Images