Center for Strategic and International Studies | Matthew P. Funaiole, Brian Hart, Aidan Powers-Riggs, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.
China's fourth aircraft carrier, the Type 004, is under rapid construction at the Dalian Shipyard, with prefabricated hull components assembled since early 2025. CSIS assesses with near certainty it is an aircraft carrier, measuring approximately 286 meters long and 46 meters wide as of May 2026. It is likely nuclear-powered, indicated by two 15-meter by 15-meter compartments resembling shielded reactor containment systems, a critical technical leap for longer operations and greater energy for electromagnetic catapults. The Type 004 is very likely larger than the _Fujian_, with a 46-meter beam versus _Fujian_'s 40 meters, and its full length will likely exceed _Fujian_'s 303 meters, potentially approaching the U.S. _Gerald R. Ford_-class supercarriers (337 meters). It will feature electromagnetic catapults, with plausible evidence suggesting four catapults and a third aircraft elevator, enhancing launch tempo. This carrier marks a significant People’s Liberation Army Navy modernization milestone, aligning with the 2025 U.S. Department of Defense assessment that China aims to field nine carriers by 2035, requiring simultaneous construction and escort vessel production.
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