<P> Later in the Cold War era , the first of the classes dubbed `` supercarriers '' was born , starting with USS Forrestal ( CV - 59 ) , followed by the Kitty Hawk - class and single ships Enterprise ( CVN - 65 ) , the first nuclear powered carrier and John F. Kennedy ( CV - 67 ) , the last conventionally powered carrier . These were then followed by the Nimitz - class and the post-cold war Gerald R. Ford - class nuclear supercarriers , the only classes that are currently in active - duty service . The ten - ship Nimitz - class is complete , while USS Gerald R. Ford ( CVN - 78 ) , the lead ship of her planned ten - ship class , is the only ship active so far , with construction started on two more ships , John F. Kennedy ( CVN - 79 ) and Enterprise ( CVN - 80 ) . </P>
<P> Later in the Cold War era , the first of the classes dubbed `` supercarriers '' was born , starting with USS Forrestal ( CV - 59 ) , followed by the Kitty Hawk - class and single ships Enterprise ( CVN - 65 ) , the first nuclear powered carrier and John F. Kennedy ( CV - 67 ) , the last conventionally powered carrier . These were then followed by the Nimitz - class and the post-cold war Gerald R. Ford - class nuclear supercarriers , the only classes that are currently in active - duty service . The ten - ship Nimitz - class is complete , while USS Gerald R. Ford ( CVN - 78 ) , the lead ship of her planned ten - ship class , is the only ship active so far , with construction started on two more ships , John F. Kennedy ( CVN - 79 ) and Enterprise ( CVN - 80 ) . </P>
how many aircraft carriers does us navy have
how many aircraft carriers does us navy have
ten
ten