text: UnitedStates whichatpresent hastwoandby1988expects tohavefourin setvice. Allfourshipswerebuiltintheearly1940sbuthavebeenrecently (or arebeing)reactivated andequipped withmodern weapons andequipment, including sea-launched cruisemissiles. TheSoviet Unionhasconstructed twonew battle-cruisers, significantly largerthantraditional cruisers andwithawide variety ofmodern weapons andsensors. Atalowerlevelthanbattleships and battle-cruisers, cruisers ateapowerful component ofanavalforce,providing a platform formissiles, guns,helicopter operations, detection andcommunications equipment andgoodfacilities forfleetcommand andcontrol. 112.Manynaviespossess destroyers and/orfrigates. Varying considerably insize (generally between 2,000and7,000tons),age,weapon-fit andotherequipment, they perform manyofthelong-standing navaltasksdescribed inchapter IV.Itisoften notpossible todifferentiate between destroyers andfrigates, particulatly in recentyears, andingeneral theyateclassified bytheprimary function forwhich theyatebestequipped, e.g.ASWfrigate. (b)Navalaviation 113.Several nations havesignificant navalairforces. Sometimes theseoperate fromaircratt-carriers, whichmayhaveavariety ofmissions, orfromshipswith otherlanding platfotms, buttherearealsoseveral Statesthathavefeworevenno aircraft-carriers yetoperate strongnavalairpowetfrombasesonshore. Naval aircraft include fighters, bombers, anti-submarine aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, ait-borne early-warning aircraft, tankers forin-flight refuelling, reconnaissance aircraft andawidevariety ofhelicopters. Helicopters are particulatly usefulinanti-submatine operations, forwhichtheyarecatried on ma~yshipsdowntofrigate size,andinamphibious assault operations. /........Table2.Selected conventional navalstrengtns (active service)!I Destroyers Submarines Aircraft- and corvettes/FAC <YFACltorpedo) /(excl.Ballistic carriersElBattleships Cruisers frigates (miSSile) FAC(gun) Missile SUDS.) Argentina 1 - - 11 7/- 2/2 3 Brazil 1 - - 18 16/- -/3 7 China - - - 41 14/222 250/345 103 France 2 - 2 43 -/5 -/- 19 India 1 - 1 28 3/16 -/- 8 Indonesia - - - 10 -/4 2/- 2 Italy 2 - 2 19 8/- 4/- 10 Japan --- 52 -/- 5/- 14 Spain 1- - 26 5/- -/- 9 SWeden - - - 2 -/30 6/- 12 TUrkey - - - 17 -/14 5/1 17 UnionofSOviet Socialist Republics 4 - 41 263 59/105 10/- 279 united Kingdom 2 - 4 56 -/- -/- 27 unitedStatesof America 14 2 28 168 -/- -/- 99 Source: Jane's Fighting Ships1984-85, pp.150-151. !IExcluding shipsinreserve orunderconstruction ormodernization. ElThetermnaircraft-carrier· isusedinabroadsense; someofthevessels soclassified carrymostlyhelicopters. Thesovietclassification is"tactical aircraft-carry~n9 crUiser". ~FastAttackCraft(seepara.129below)...."'.."~,10..0oil!>....,0...,.....'"..."'......A/40/535 English Page38 114.Effective control hasbeenSeentodemandeffective control oftheadjacent airspace. Inthissense,sincethe1940stheaircraft-carrier hassuperseded the battleship asthecapital shipofnavalsurface forces. Thelargest aircraft-carriers areatpresent operated bytheUnitedStates Navy.Displacing over90,000tonsatfullload,theyareOver330m(1,000feet)inlength, nuclear-propelled, carryover90aircraft andatotalnavalandaircreWof
analysis: This text appears to be a description of naval forces and capabilities of various countries, discussing the types of ships, aircraft, and equipment they possess. It seems to be a factual account of the naval strength of different nations, with a focus on the technological aspects of their naval forces. Given this content, it is likely that the text is related to defense and military capabilities.