ONE of the world’s most powerful aircraft carriers will be visiting Hampshire today.

The 100,000-tonne ‘supercarrier’ USS George HW Bush, which has 5,000 US sailors stationed on it, will be heading to Stokes Bay, just off the coast of Gosport.

The 1,092ft beast will anchor off Stokes Bay for several days as part of her deployment across Europe and the Middle East.

The vessel has 90 military aircraft, making it one of the United States’ most effective military weapons at sea.

Councillor Stephen Philpott, chair of the economic board on Gosport Borough Council said: “The United States is one of our most important allies and has one of the most military capabilities in the world.

“The visit by USS George HW Bush will reinforce the connections that the area has with not just the British Royal Navy but with navies from all over the world.”

USS George HW Bush – which is named after the 41st President of the United States and former Director of Central Intelligence George HW. Bush, who was a naval aviator during the Second World War – was completed in 2009 and last visited Hampshire in May 2011 when it was stationed just outside Portsmouth Harbour along with USS Theodore Roosevelt in May 2015.

Councillor Shaun Cunningham, who represents Portchester East on Fareham Borough Council said: “It’s very impressive that an aircraft carrier of this size that signifies our special connection with America is coming to Stokes Bay, lots of people should go and see it.”

Her arrival comes just weeks ahead of the Royal Navy’s own supercarrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, which will be stationed in the county from autumn after spending 11 weeks at sea for trials.

The Royal Navy’s 65,000-tonne ship cost £3.1bn to construct and is the largest warship ever built for the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy, capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft.

Commodore Jerry Kidd, who will be overseeing the operations of the Royal Navy’s latest vessel said: “For the Royal Navy, the United Kingdom buying these ships is the right thing to do.

“They are symbols of national power and they are totemic symbols of your ambition and your need to be an outward-facing global Britain, ready to play its full part in the western defence of democracy and security around the world.”