China’s commencement of construction on its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, designated the Type 004, marks a historic inflection point in global naval power projection. The move signals Beijing’s transition from a regionally focused maritime force into a blue-water navy capable of sustained global reach, endurance, and strategic depth—directly challenging decades of United States naval primacy.
The first concrete signs of the programme emerged in September 2025, when high-resolution satellite imagery revealed massive prefabricated hull modules at the Dalian Shipyard in northeast China. The scale of these modules immediately distinguished the vessel from China’s previous carriers, pointing to a ship of unprecedented size and complexity. Analysts say the imagery underscores not only the physical dimensions of the Type 004 but also the maturity of China’s shipbuilding industry and the strategic intent behind the programme.
With estimated displacement ranging between 110,000 and 120,000 tonnes, the Type 004 is expected to eclipse all previous Chinese aircraft carriers and rival, or potentially exceed, the United States Navy’s Ford-class nuclear supercarriers in operational ambition. If confirmed, it would rank among the largest warships ever constructed, symbolising China’s arrival in an elite category of naval power long dominated solely by the US.
More than a platform upgrade, the decision to adopt nuclear propulsion represents a profound doctrinal shift. Nuclear power enables sustained expeditionary operations, long-range power projection, and near-permanent forward presence in strategically vital waters—from the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean to the Middle East and possibly even the Atlantic. For the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), it marks a decisive break from coastal and regional constraints.
The Type 004 also stands as the clearest embodiment yet of President Xi Jinping’s directive to build a “world-class navy” by 2049. As China accelerates its military modernisation, the carrier programme has become a flagship symbol of national ambition, industrial capacity, and strategic confidence.
China’s aircraft carrier journey has been incremental rather than abrupt. It began with the refurbished Soviet-era Varyag hull, commissioned in 2012 as the Type 001 Liaoning. Displacing around 60,900 tonnes and powered conventionally, Liaoning relied on a ski-jump launch system and was widely regarded as a training platform. Its primary mission was to allow the PLAN to master the complex art of carrier aviation rather than to project power at scale.
That learning phase continued with the Type 002 Shandong, China’s first domestically built carrier, which entered service in 2019. With a displacement of roughly 70,000 tonnes, Shandong incorporated incremental design improvements but remained constrained by ski-jump operations and conventional propulsion. Both carriers were largely confined to operations within the First Island Chain, limiting their strategic reach.
A decisive technological leap came with the Type 003 Fujian, commissioned in 2025. Displacing over 80,000 tonnes, Fujian introduced electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS), placing China alongside the United States as the only countries capable of fielding such advanced technology. Although still conventionally powered, Fujian dramatically expanded the PLAN’s operational envelope by enabling the launch of heavier aircraft, higher sortie rates, and a more versatile air wing.
Yet even Fujian remained tethered by fuel logistics. Conventional propulsion requires frequent replenishment and consumes internal space that could otherwise be used for aviation fuel, weapons, or advanced systems. The Type 004 decisively breaks this limitation. Nuclear propulsion eliminates the need for regular refuelling, granting the carrier virtually unlimited range and endurance measured in decades rather than weeks.
Construction of the Type 004 reportedly began in mid-2024, but its true scale became evident only in 2025 as satellite imagery revealed increasingly clear indicators. By early 2025, large hull sections were visible in reinforced dry docks at Dalian, highlighting China’s use of modular construction techniques that allow multiple sections to be built simultaneously, significantly shortening construction timelines.
Later imagery showed the installation of new heavy-lift cranes and strengthened dock infrastructure capable of handling the immense weight of a nuclear supercarrier. The most consequential confirmation came in November 2025, when analysts identified a structure consistent with a nuclear reactor containment vessel embedded within the hull. The size and configuration closely resembled those seen on US nuclear-powered carriers, marking the clearest external evidence that China has crossed the threshold from nuclear submarines to nuclear surface combatants.
Additional indicators included upgraded cooling-water intake systems, blast-resistant structures, and expanded safety zones at the shipyard—features typically associated with nuclear vessel construction. Parallel developments at land-based testing facilities, including a full-scale electromagnetic launch track observed in Wuhan, suggest that critical carrier subsystems are undergoing intensive validation.
Taken together, these signs point to a launch timeline between 2028 and 2029, followed by several years of sea trials and systems integration. Operational commissioning is widely expected in the early 2030s, a schedule reflecting China’s extraordinary shipbuilding capacity.
Technically, the Type 004 is expected to measure approximately 320 to 330 metres in length. Its nuclear propulsion system will likely consist of twin pressurised water reactors generating enough power to sustain speeds above 30 knots while supporting integrated electric propulsion. The absence of large fuel bunkers frees vast internal space for aviation fuel, weapons magazines, crew facilities, and advanced command systems.
The flight deck is expected to feature four electromagnetic catapults—two forward and two angled—enabling simultaneous launch and recovery operations. This configuration would support an air wing of more than 90 fixed-wing aircraft, including J-35 stealth fighters, J-15T heavy fighters, KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft, electronic warfare platforms, and potentially unmanned combat aerial vehicles.
Defensively, the carrier will rely on layered close-in weapon systems, vertically launched missiles, and advanced electronic warfare suites. It will operate as the core of a powerful carrier strike group, escorted by Type 055 destroyers, Type 054B frigates, and Type 095 nuclear attack submarines, enabling integrated multi-domain operations far from Chinese shores.
Strategically, the emergence of a Chinese nuclear supercarrier fundamentally alters the maritime balance. In the Taiwan Strait, it enhances China’s ability to sustain prolonged air operations. In the South China Sea, it strengthens Beijing’s capacity to enforce maritime claims. Beyond Asia, it enables persistent presence in regions long dominated by the US Navy.
While challenges remain—particularly in nuclear safety, crew training, and operational experience—the Type 004 represents a strategic statement of intent. As steel rises from Dalian’s dry docks, the world is witnessing the birth of a platform that could redefine maritime power projection for decades to come.
