China starts building Type 004 nuclear aircraft carrier to rival U.S. Navy’s Ford-class.

China started building its fourth aircraft carrier, the nuclear-powered Type 004, analysts confirmed on September 29, 2025. Built to rival the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class, the warship could shift the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.

Chinese military analysts confirmed on September 29, 2025, that Beijing has begun construction on its fourth aircraft carrier, the nuclear-powered Type 004. The vessel will feature electromagnetic catapults and an advanced carrier air wing, designed to rival the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class. The move is significant because it signals a direct challenge to American naval dominance and raises new security concerns in the Indo-Pacific.
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Artist rendering of China's next-generation aircraft carrier Type 004, featuring a full-length CATOBAR flight deck, electromagnetic catapults, and an expanded island superstructure. The nuclear-powered supercarrier is designed to operate over 90 fixed-wing aircraft, including J-15T strike fighters and stealth J-35 jets, marking a dramatic leap in the PLA Navy's blue-water power projection capabilities. (Picture source: China social network)

The Chinese Type 004 and the U.S. Navy Gerald R. Ford-class share key next-generation features, yet they diverge significantly in terms of technological maturity and mission integration. Both vessels exceed 100,000 tons in displacement and adopt electromagnetic catapult systems, with EMALS on the Ford and a domestically developed equivalent aboard the Type 004. Each carrier is powered by nuclear propulsion, with the Ford-class using two A1B reactors that generate over 700 megawatts of power. In contrast, Chinese defense sources suggest that the Type 004 will feature twin pressurized water reactors, estimated to produce around 450 to 500 megawatts combined. The Ford-class supports an air wing of approximately 75 aircraft, including F-35C stealth fighters, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW&C aircraft, and EA-18G Growlers for electronic warfare.

In contrast, the Chinese Type 004 is expected to carry over 90 aircraft, favoring numerical strength with a mix of J-15T heavy strike fighters, fifth-generation J-35 stealth jets, KJ-600 AEW platforms, and future unmanned systems. The Ford-class benefits from advanced arresting gear, highly automated weapons elevators, and a next-generation flight deck designed to support up to 160 sorties per day in surge conditions. While the Type 004 may aim to match these performance benchmarks, its actual operational effectiveness will depend on the PLAN’s ability to master complex deck operations, logistical sustainment at sea, and integrated joint force command, areas where the U.S. Navy maintains a decisive institutional advantage.

Early assessments from Chinese defense sources suggest the new carrier will displace between 110,000 and 120,000 tons, placing it firmly in the category of a full-scale supercarrier. Construction has reportedly commenced at the Dalian Shipyard, where satellite imagery and insider leaks reveal modular assembly of hull sections and specialized catapult launch infrastructure. Once operational, the Type 004 will carry more than 90 fixed-wing aircraft, including an expected mix of 24 to 30 J-15T catapult-launched heavy fighters and over 20 stealthy J-35 multirole combat aircraft, specifically designed for carrier-based operations and low-observable strike missions.

The warship’s nuclear propulsion system, a first for any Chinese surface combatant, is believed to be based on a navalized derivative of China’s Longwei pressurized-water reactor series, offering nearly unlimited operational range. This will enable PLAN carrier strike groups to sustain operations far beyond China's littoral zones, extending Beijing’s maritime reach across the Pacific and potentially into the Indian Ocean and beyond. With a full CATOBAR flight deck and high-tempo sortie generation capabilities, the Type 004 is being engineered for extended power projection, fleet air defense, and contested sea control, key attributes in any future conflict scenario with a peer adversary.

The implications for the United States Navy are immediate and serious. For decades, American supercarriers have maintained uncontested dominance across the world’s oceans, backed by a sophisticated network of logistics, carrier air wings, and integrated escort formations. The emergence of a Chinese nuclear-powered carrier with a comparable displacement and aviation capacity suggests the beginning of a true blue-water competition. While the U.S. Navy still maintains an edge in operational experience and advanced technologies such as the F-35C and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the rapid pace of Chinese carrier development threatens to narrow that gap.

Chinese analysts have indicated that the Type 004 will be escorted by the most modern warships in the PLAN fleet, including the stealth-optimized Type 055A/B guided-missile destroyers, the next-generation Type 054B frigates, and the still-classified Type 095 nuclear-powered attack submarines. These assets would allow the PLAN to field a cohesive, modern, and highly capable carrier strike group that mirrors U.S. Navy CSG formations in both structure and function.

Compared to China’s previous three aircraft carriers, Liaoning (Type 001), Shandong (Type 002), and Fujian (Type 003), the Type 004 represents an unprecedented technological leap. The Liaoning, a refitted Soviet Kuznetsov-class vessel, is limited by its ski-jump launch system and conventional steam power, making it more of a transitional training platform than a true frontline carrier. Shandong, while domestically built, retains the same STOBAR configuration and faces the same limitations in aircraft payload and sortie generation.

The real evolution began with the Fujian, the Type 003, which introduced electromagnetic catapults and a flat flight deck, a critical departure from the ski-jump design. However, Fujian remains conventionally powered, restricting its sustained reach and endurance. By contrast, the Type 004 combines all major features of modern Western carriers: nuclear propulsion, electromagnetic catapults, a large and diverse air wing, and sustained blue-water operational capabilities.

In terms of length, the Type 004 is expected to measure approximately 330 to 340 meters, slightly longer than the Fujian (estimated at 316 meters), and approaching the dimensions of the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class, which measures 337 meters. By comparison, the Liaoning and Shandong both measure around 305 meters, reflecting their limitations in aviation capacity and deck operations. The larger hull of the Type 004 will allow for expanded hangar space, dual aircraft elevators, and improved internal logistics for munitions, fuel, and spare parts, enabling a much higher sortie generation rate.

When it comes to aircraft capabilities, the Type 004’s projected air wing of over 90 aircraft represents a substantial increase from previous Chinese carriers. The Liaoning and Shandong can each embark around 36 to 44 aircraft, mostly J-15s, constrained by the lack of catapults. The Fujian is expected to carry 60 to 70 aircraft, including early warning and stealth platforms, thanks to its electromagnetic launch system. However, only the Type 004 combines catapult-launch capability with nuclear propulsion, enabling longer deployments and a more diverse, fully loaded air wing, including heavier platforms such as fixed-wing AEW&C aircraft (KJ-600) and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs).

The propulsion architecture is where the Type 004 truly redefines Chinese naval engineering. Unlike the steam turbines used on Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian, the Type 004 will reportedly employ two or more nuclear reactors, based on China’s Longwei PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) design, adapted for maritime use. These reactors are believed to deliver power not only to the ship’s propulsion but also to its electromagnetic catapults, high-capacity radar arrays, and possibly future high-energy weapons systems. This places the Type 004 in the same strategic category as U.S. nuclear supercarriers, enabling extended global deployments without the need for refueling, an essential trait for any navy seeking to operate beyond its regional waters.

In summary, the Type 004 is not merely a continuation of China’s carrier development program. It is a transformational platform designed to match or exceed the capabilities of its American counterparts. With greater length, nuclear propulsion, expanded air wing capacity, and a launch system capable of supporting next-generation manned and unmanned aircraft, the Type 004 positions China to enter a new era of maritime dominance. For the U.S. Navy, this development represents the emergence of a true near-peer competitor on the high seas and a direct challenge to its historical control of carrier-based power projection.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.