China Advances Construction of Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier

Construction of China’s fourth aircraft carrier, known as the Type 004, is reportedly well underway at the Dalian Shipyard in Liaoning province. Recent images suggest that the vessel will be nuclear-powered, marking a significant transition for China’s naval capabilities. This development comes shortly after the commissioning of the Fujian, China’s first domestically built carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, indicating rapid advancements in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) fleet.

Photographs emerging online show what appears to be a reactor containment structure within the hull of the Type 004. This feature aligns with the design of US nuclear supercarriers and indicates a leap in propulsion technology. The US Department of Defense has noted that China’s next-generation carriers are expected to feature greater endurance, allowing for deployments far beyond their immediate territorial waters.

Incorporating nuclear propulsion would grant the Type 004 virtually unlimited operational range and enhanced power for sophisticated systems, positioning China alongside the United States and France as one of the few nations capable of operating nuclear carriers. Meanwhile, reports suggest that China may also pursue a conventionally powered design, leveraging its substantial shipbuilding capacity to develop multiple aircraft carriers.

China’s strategic focus on naval power underscores its ambition to project influence globally. This is particularly relevant in the context of regional tensions in areas such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. While the Fujian has received significant attention as China’s premier carrier design, experts like US Navy Captain Carl Schuster have pointed out that it may still face considerable limitations. In an October 2025 interview with CNN, Schuster noted that the Fujian might operate at only 60% of the capacity of a US Nimitz-class carrier.

The design of the Fujian includes a landing area angled only six degrees off-center, compared to the nine degrees typical of US carriers. This narrower deck angle reduces the space available for repositioning recovered aircraft. Furthermore, Lieutenant Commander Keith Stewart emphasized that China lacks operational experience with electromagnetic catapults, which could hinder the effectiveness of the Fujian during critical nighttime operations.

As China seeks to enhance its carrier capabilities, the Type 004 is viewed as the next step in this evolution. Schuster suggested that lessons learned from the Fujian will inform the design of the Type 004, much like how improvements were made from China’s initial carrier, the Liaoning, to the later Shandong. Should construction of the Type 004 be completed, China would possess a total of four carriers—three conventionally powered and one nuclear.

However, this combination may present challenges. A fleet of three carriers could facilitate continuous operations through rotation, with one carrier deployed, another in training, and a third undergoing maintenance. An expanded fleet of six carriers could allow for two vessels to operate at sea, while conventional carriers would likely operate within the First Island Chain, where logistical support is more readily available.

In contrast, nuclear-powered carriers could extend their operational reach into the Second Island Chain, which includes the Bonin Islands, Guam, and Papua New Guinea. Under the protection of long-range ballistic missiles such as the DF-21 and DF-26, China’s conventionally powered carriers could establish air supremacy in the Taiwan Strait and challenge weaker regional rivals like Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The introduction of nuclear carriers would also enhance China’s military posture as a counter-intervention force, particularly in scenarios involving Taiwan. Nonetheless, geographical constraints pose significant strategic hurdles for China. The country is limited to two primary maritime exits—the Miyako Strait and Bashi Channel—both of which are monitored by US and allied missile systems.

To overcome these challenges, China may consider a range of strategies, including fortifying carrier defenses, targeting missile installations, or supporting sympathetic political figures in allied nations to influence the removal of US missile batteries. The dual approach of employing both nuclear and conventional carriers may also help China address the numbers issue in military deployment. While nuclear carriers provide global reach, conventional flattops can be produced more rapidly to build a substantial fleet.

In response to the evolving naval landscape, the United States has explored concepts such as the “lightning carrier,” which aims to disperse naval air power across amphibious assault ships. However, these vessels often face limitations in operational effectiveness, compromising their dual roles. By maintaining the capability to build dedicated conventional carriers, China could optimize its naval combat power without the constraints of hybrid designs.

The ongoing development of China’s nuclear supercarrier represents not only a bold ambition but also a critical test of whether it can effectively extend its naval operational reach beyond the First Island Chain while evading US missile defenses. Should China succeed, it could herald a new era in the Indo-Pacific where US naval dominance is challenged.