Article Summary: China’s Type 004 aircraft carrier marks a major leap in Beijing’s naval ambitions. Equipped with nuclear propulsion for unlimited range and an electromagnetic catapult launch system, it aims to rival U.S. Navy supercarriers.
Key Point #1 – However, despite China’s rapid progress, the U.S. retains a significant edge with decades of carrier warfare experience, superior technology, and a global logistical network. While the Type 004 may challenge older Nimitz-class carriers, it still falls short of the Gerald R. Ford-class.
Key Point #2 – Nonetheless, China’s expanding carrier fleet signals a determined push to project power far beyond its shores, raising concerns among Western military planners.
Those 4 Words – China’s Navy: A Powerhouse
China’s Nuclear-Powered Carrier: How It Stacks Up Against the U.S. Navy
China has made significant progress over the past several decades in advancing aircraft carrier operations and fielding a credible blue-water power projection capability.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, first started carrier operations in the late 1990s when it bought the Varyag, an unfinished Soviet aircraft carrier, which the PLAN later refitted and commissioned into service as the Liaoning in 2012.
Though this was the first modern carrier in PLAN service, its purpose was to train pilots and sailors for future aircraft carriers rather than to see service in combat.
After the Liaoning, the PLAN began work on China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, which entered service in 2019 and christened the Shandong.
Although the Shandong retained some design aspects with the Liaoning, including the retention of a ski-jump launch system, it incorporates several more advanced design elements.
Most recently, China’s third carrier, the Fujian, entered service in 2022 and is undergoing sea trials. Like the most advanced American aircraft carriers, the Fujian has an electromagnetic catapult launch system, which allows for launching more sorties and heavier aircraft, as well as lighter aircraft like unmanned drones, and places less stress on aircraft airframes.
Type 004 Nuclear Carrier for China
To date, China’s carrier progress has been a linear progression of advancement, and the upcoming Type 004 aircraft carrier will represent quite a significant technological leap for the PLAN.
Utilizing nuclear propulsion will give the class unlimited range and exceptional endurance limited only by crew food requirements on par with the United States Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
Like the Fujian, the Type 004 will also incorporate an electromagnetic catapult launch system, likely with improvements.
In tandem with attack aircraft, the Type 004 will likely carry a complement of large carrier-capable drones, early warning aircraft, and a navalized version of the stealthy J-35.
It is thought that the PLAN will ultimately have four Type 004 aircraft carriers in service.
Compare & Contrast Aircraft Carriers
Though certainly a radical step for the Chinese Navy, the American edge in aircraft carriers will likely be retained well into the future.
The U.S. Navy’s older Nimiz-class carriers, which have been in service since the 1970s, have enjoyed broad modernization and are still highly capable warships. The upcoming Gerald R. Ford-class, the newest U.S. Navy carriers, and some of the largest, most advanced warships ever built.
Fujian, China’s new aircraft carrier. Image Credit: Chinese Internet.
Although the Type 004 does rival the older Nimitz-class to a certain degree, the Ford-class remains unparalleled in capabilities, technology, and operational effectiveness.
But it’s not just technology — the United States Navy can also leverage 80 years of carrier operations, experienced naval pilots, and an unparalleled logistical network.
China has indeed made significant progress in fielding an increasingly capable blue water fleet, with aircraft carriers being the backbone of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. Still, it will take some time to match the capabilities of their American counterparts.
Besides raw carrier numbers and quality of build, China still lacks the many decades of operational experience possessed by the United States Navy and the global infrastructure the United States can leverage in support of carrier operations.
Still, the Type 004 is an aggressive move to close this capabilities gap with the United States and an effort to field credible power projection capability that extends far from the Chinese coast.
A Chinese Aircraft Carrier on the high-seas. Image Credit: Chinese Internet.
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
