Why Are The Queen Elizabeth-class Carriers Not Nuclear-powered? #shorts
17,732Why are the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers not nuclear-powered? Well, these two aircraft carriers of the British Royal Navy can launch nearly as many sorties as a Ford-class aircraft carrier, but unlike the Ford, they're conventional fuel-burning ships. The refueling and complex overhaul process takes up to almost three years, during which the aircraft carrier is out of service, and the process costs billions of dollars as well. Another reason is way more interesting. What's the advantage of a nuclear-powered carrier, when you still need to replenish at sea to get aviation fuel for your fighter jets, food for your crew, and munitions to defend yourself? Aircraft carriers only carry a month’s worth of aviation fuel, so they need to be refueled monthly anyway. Getting fuel for your ship at the same time, from a tanker, is also achievable. Also, did I tell you that some countries do not allow nuclear-powered vessels into their territorial waters? For example, Egypt imposed a ban on nuclear powered vessels using the Suez Canal in 1987. Being able to use the Suez Canal saves a month of sailing time from, say, Cyprus to the British Indian Ocean Territory. In short, it's far cheaper and has no limitations, whereas going nuclear is very expensive and very limiting.
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