Two Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 130 (VAQ-130) EA-6B Prowler aircraft rendezvous with a KC-135E Stratotanker aircraft to refuel while en route to targets in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. At upper right, a third Prowler aircraft is refueled by an Attack Squadron 75 (VA-75) A-6E Intruder aircraft carrying a "buddy store" external fuel tank. VAQ-130 and VA-75 are based aboard the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67)

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.