China building 4th aircraft carrier to counter US, could be nuclear-powered: Report

China is building its fourth aircraft carrier, even as its third and most advanced carrier, Fujian, nears official commissioning after completing extensive sea trials, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

Satellite images obtained by the Hong Kong-based newspaper reportedly show the hull of the new carrier taking shape at a major shipyard in Dalian, Liaoning province, indicating that Beijing’s naval expansion continues at a rapid pace.

China currently operates two aircraft carriers -- the Liaoning and the Shandong. The Liaoning, commissioned in 2012, is a refitted Soviet-era vessel originally built for the Soviet Navy, while the Shandong, commissioned in 2019, is the country’s first indigenously built carrier, PTI reported.

The third carrier, Fujian, is undergoing its final testing phase before being commissioned into active service, according to Chinese military spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang. Last month, Zhang confirmed that China’s latest generation of carrier-based aircraft -- including the J-15T, J-35, and KongJing-600 -- have completed catapult-assisted take-off and arrest landing trials aboard the Fujian.

The Fujian is distinguished for being the most advanced carrier in the Chinese fleet, equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) -- the same cutting-edge technology used by the US Navy’s USS Gerald R Ford.

FOURTH CARRIER COULD BE NUCLEAR-POWERED

The SCMP report also claims that China’s fourth carrier may feature nuclear propulsion, a development that would dramatically extend the vessel’s operational range and power output. Nuclear-powered systems could allow the carrier to sustain longer deployments, power more advanced radar and weapon systems, and rival the capabilities of US supercarriers.

Like Fujian, the new vessel is expected to incorporate EMALS launch technology and arrested landing systems, further enhancing its capacity to deploy heavier and more advanced aircraft.

If confirmed, the move would represent a major strategic leap for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), which has made carrier construction a central part of its maritime modernisation drive.

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With inputs from agencies