China Advances Construction on Potential Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier
New imagery confirms China is making significant progress on its fourth aircraft carrier, which many analysts believe will be the nation’s first nuclear-powered vessel, potentially reshaping naval power dynamics in the region.
Recent photos of the carrier, designated Type 004, taken at the Dalian shipyard in Liaoning province, reveal what appears to be a reactor containment structure – a key component for nuclear propulsion. While officials have not confirmed the power source, the structure closely resembles those found on U.S. nuclear-powered supercarriers. This development follows just one week after the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned the Fujian, its first domestically produced carrier. The shift to nuclear power would grant the Type 004 virtually unlimited range, a significant advantage over conventionally powered ships.
The Type 004’s design incorporates features seen in both U.S. and French nuclear-powered carriers, including catapult launch systems. According to the Pentagon’s latest assessment of Chinese military power, China’s next generation of carriers will prioritize “greater endurance,” increasing their ability to project power beyond China’s immediate periphery. In March, PLAN political commissar Yuan Huazhi acknowledged the construction of a fourth carrier but declined to comment on its propulsion system. Simultaneously, reports suggest China may also be developing a conventionally powered carrier at a separate shipyard in Shanghai, potentially an improved version of the Fujian design. For more on China’s naval ambitions, see analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Beyond the carriers, China is also expanding its fleet of large-deck amphibious assault ships, equipped with electromagnetic catapults intended primarily for drone launches. These developments underscore China’s growing investment in naval capabilities, though the PLAN’s three existing carriers are still outnumbered by the U.S. Navy’s eleven nuclear-powered supercarriers. Officials indicate continued construction and testing are expected in the coming months.
