It won't be long until another 100,000-tonne nuclear-powered supercarrier operated by the US Navy takes to the seas.
The USS John F Kennedy is edging closer to her planned delivery in 2027 after completing acceptance trials at sea, and the $13.2bn vessel is pulling no punches.
While the US Navy does not designate a single flagship for its entire fleet, unlike the Royal Navy with HMS Prince of Wales, it begs the question: how do the largest and most advanced aircraft carriers operated by both navies stack up against each other?
Dimensions
At a whopping 337m long, the incoming US carrier is more than 50 metres longer than its British counterpart – nearly half the length of an average football pitch in the UK.
With a displacement of approximately 100,000 tonnes, compared to HMS Prince of Wales's 65,000 tonnes, the American vessel can accommodate roughly 4,500 personnel, which includes both the ship's company and the embarked air wing.
Its air wing is designed to hold more than 75 aircraft, including the EA-18G Growler and the fifth-generation F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter.
Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales has a core minimum crew of 678 personnel but can accommodate up to 1,600 personnel, including space and bedding for roughly 250 Royal Marines or additional forces.
Its air wing can hold a theoretical maximum of up to 72 aircraft; however, standard peacetime deployments will usually accommodate around 40.
Weapon systems
In terms of the defensive armaments built onto the two carriers themselves, the incoming USS JFK will feature two Mk 29 Guided Missile Launching Systems, each capable of equipping eight Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) for anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence.
Two Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching Systems equipped with 21 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) can deliver supersonic, fire-and-forget missiles that can destroyincoming anti-ship missiles, drones and enemy aircraft at supersonic speed.
Meanwhile, it will feature three Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) – a radar-controlled Gatling gun that can fire 75 armour-piercing rounds a second over a distance of 5.5km, along with four Browning 0.50 Calibre machine guns for surface threats, small boats, and asymmetric dangers.
While the Royal Navy's flagship is not equipped with a dedicated ESSM or RAM missile launcher, she does have the same CIWS, such as the Phalanx.
Nevertheless, as with both vessels, its primary punch will come from embarked aircraft rather than ship-mounted weapons.
Tracking capabilities
For radar and navigation, the American behemoth will become the first Ford-class carrier built with the new AN/SPY-6 radar system, which will offer her simultaneous multi-mission capabilities, including electronic protection, target and missile tracking, air traffic control, and volume search.
The Prince of Wales, meanwhile, is equipped with two primary radar systems: the Type 998 Artisan 3D medium-range and the S1850M long-range surveillance radar.
While the former can detect objects as small as a tennis ball travelling at three times the speed of sound from more than 25km away, the latter can scan the seas to a maximum range of around 400km.
Cost
The USS John F Kennedy has reportedly cost approximately $13.2bn (around £9.75bn) – considerably more than the £3.5bn cost of HMS Prince of Wales.
Speed and propulsion
The American carrier can reach speeds in excess of 30 knots, propelled by two A1B nuclear reactors driving four propeller shafts, giving her virtually unlimited range.
On the other hand, its British counterpart trails just behind with a top speed of around 25 knots, powered by four diesel generators and two gas turbines.
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