航空母舰是一种以舰载机为主要作战武器的大型水面舰只。它攻防兼备,作战能力强,能执行多种战役战术任务,具有很强的威慑力,因而倍受各国军界的器重。现代航空母舰及舰载机已成为高技术密集的军事系统工程。不少专家认为,航空母舰已成为一个国家军事、工业、科技水平与综合国力的象征。 An aircraft carrier is a large surface ship that uses carrier-based aircraft as its main combat weapon. It has both offensive and defensive capabilities, strong combat capability, capable of executing a wide range of operational and tactical missions, has a very strong deterrent capability and is therefore highly regarded by the military forces in various countries. Modern aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft have become high-tech-intensive military systems engineering. Many experts believe that the aircraft carrier has become a national symbol of military, industrial, scientific and technological level and overall national strength.