An Attack Squadron 72 (VA-72) A-7E Corsair aircraft bearing a desert camouflage paint scheme sits on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) following the cease-fire that ended Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft is assigned to the commander and deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3)

Aircraft carriers are warships that act as airbases for carrier-based aircraft. In the United States Navy, these consist of ships commissioned with hull classification symbols CV (aircraft carrier), CVA (attack aircraft carrier), CVB (large aircraft carrier), CVL (light aircraft carrier), CVN (aircraft carrier (nuclear propulsion) and CVAN (attack aircraft carrier (nuclear propulsion). The first aircraft carrier commissioned into the United States Navy was USS Langley (CV-1) on 20 March 1922.