China Begins Construction of First Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

China has embarked on constructing its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, marking a transformative leap in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) capabilities. Satellite imagery and leaked photographs from 2025 reveal intensive construction activity at the Dalian Shipyard, where large hull sections and reactor-related modules have been identified. These distinctive features set the Type 004 apart from China’s three conventionally powered carriers Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian signaling a fundamental shift in naval propulsion strategy. The development builds upon earlier disclosures from 2024 regarding a land-based prototype reactor dedicated to naval propulsion research, indicating a systematic multi-year preparatory effort rather than an improvised design transition.

Type 004 Supercarrier Specifications and Scale

The Type 004 represents China’s fourth aircraft carrier and its inaugural nuclear-powered naval vessel. Construction progress at Dalian Shipyard throughout 2025 has exposed hull modules, containment-like structures, and internal configurations characteristic of nuclear propulsion systems elements conspicuously absent from previous Chinese carrier programs. Defense analysts project the vessel could displace between 110,000 and 120,000 tons, positioning it within the same weight category as the United States Navy’s Ford-class carriers, potentially even surpassing them. Artist renderings circulating through open-source channels illustrate a supercarrier-scale platform featuring an expansive flight deck and enlarged internal volume designed to accommodate sophisticated operational systems and enhanced aircraft capacity.

Revolutionary Electromagnetic Launch Systems

Design projections indicate the Type 004 will incorporate four to five electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS), building upon technology initially deployed on the conventionally powered Fujian carrier. This advanced configuration would enable the vessel to operate a projected air wing exceeding 90 aircraft, including next-generation J-35 stealth fighters and KJ-600 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platforms.

The integration of nuclear propulsion with EMALS technology provides substantially greater electrical output compared to traditional steam-based catapult systems, facilitating higher sortie rates and sustained combat operations. This architectural design supports heavier aircraft launches and more complex mission profiles than those achievable from China’s earlier carrier platforms, fundamentally enhancing operational flexibility and combat effectiveness.

Unlimited Range Through Nuclear Power

Nuclear propulsion technology would grant the Type 004 virtually unlimited operational range and endurance, eliminating the refueling constraints that restrict conventionally powered carriers. This transformative capability would enable PLAN to conduct extended-duration deployments far beyond the Western Pacific region, supporting strategic operations throughout the Indian Ocean, Middle East, and other distant theaters. Substantive evidence of China’s naval nuclear propulsion ambitions emerged through a 2024 Associated Press investigation describing a land-based reactor prototype at Base 909 in Sichuan Province, operated by the Nuclear Power Institute of China under the classified “Longwei Project.” Defense experts widely regard this facility as a critical testbed for carrier-scale reactor integration and operational validation.

Strategic Infrastructure Expansion

Concurrent with carrier construction, China is systematically expanding naval infrastructure to accommodate a larger and more capable carrier fleet. New pier facilities and comprehensive support installations have been documented at Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island, alongside developments at Yuchi and Qingdao locations strategically associated with future carrier deployments. Multiple open-source analysts, Japanese research organizations, and academic institutions have independently verified ongoing construction progress through late 2025, though no single institution has been publicly credited with the satellite imagery analysis. This infrastructure development demonstrates China’s long-term commitment to sustaining a blue-water carrier force capable of global power projection.

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Challenges and Future Implications

Despite impressive momentum, significant challenges persist in realizing China’s nuclear carrier ambitions. Critical hurdles include seamless nuclear reactor integration, comprehensive crew training programs, and establishing protocols for safe long-term operation of a nuclear-powered carrier force. The technical complexity of managing shipboard nuclear reactors, radiation safety protocols, and maintenance requirements demands substantial expertise and institutional knowledge typically accumulated over decades. Nevertheless, the Type 004 program represents China’s determination to achieve strategic parity with established naval powers, fundamentally reshaping regional and global maritime balance while extending PLAN’s operational reach into previously inaccessible theaters of operation.

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