41 pictures that show why a US aircraft carrier is such a dominant force

Aircraft carriers are the heart of the US Navy. The deck of a carrier is literally a few acres of American territory floating around the world, projecting massive air and seagoing military might.

Carriers are expensive, with new Ford-class ships running about $13 billion, but they last about 50 years.

Business Insider's Robert Johnson visited the USS Eisenhower during a massive mine clearing effort in the Persian Gulf a few years ago.

The Ike, which finished two years worth of maintenance in August, is the second-oldest US carrier still in service. But as you'll see, her age takes nothing from her powerful presence near foreign soil.

This post is originally by Robert Johnson.