In recent hours, new satellite images showed what would apparently be the construction of the fourth aircraft carrier of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) at the Dalian shipyard, in the northeast of the country. Although the photographs, released through Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), do not allow distinguishing specific details of its structure, analysts point out that the pace of activity in the area suggests steady progress in the construction of what would be the next large unit of China’s fleet.
Although Beijing has officially acknowledged through state media that the new aircraft carrier is under construction, so far no further details have been provided regarding the degree of progress, technical characteristics, or the expected timelines for its incorporation, limiting the possibilities of making a broader description in this regard. Nevertheless, as the months have passed, activity related to the initial construction of the first sections of the future unit has already been observed.
A new satellite image shows a view of the Dalian shipyard, on China’s northeastern coast, where a large structure can be seen at the main docks of the complex. In the photograph, a large hull in the initial stage of assembly could be distinguished, accompanied by cranes and industrial modules corresponding to large-scale shipbuilding processes. While the image does not allow confirmation of the degree of progress or its direct correspondence with the supposed aircraft carrier, the scale of the work and the arrangement of the modules suggest that the shipyard is carrying out a construction of great dimensions.
According to unofficial reports, this new Chinese Navy aircraft carrier – preliminarily identified as Type 004 – could include a nuclear propulsion system, as well as an electromagnetic catapult system. It is estimated that it would reach a displacement of around 120,000 tons, which would make it the largest unit ever built by the Asian Giant. On this basis, some assessments by specialized analysts indicate that it could enter service within a period of two to three years, although this projection should be treated with caution due to the lack of official information.
This possible Type 004 would mark one more step in the evolution of China’s maritime power projection capability, which currently has three aircraft carriers: the Liaoning (CV-16), the Shandong (CV-17), and the Fujian (CV-18). The latter was officially incorporated into the Chinese Navy on November 6, consolidating the technological progress of the Asian country. Various analysts have pointed out that the Fujian could serve as a technological transition platform toward future nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, laying the foundations for the integration of more advanced systems and greater operational autonomy in upcoming units.
Finally, considering this context, the construction and progress of the Type 004 aircraft carrier are part of a much broader strategy by the Asian Giant, which seeks to strengthen its national naval industry with increasingly complex units capable of operating heavier, longer-range, and more autonomous carrier-based aircraft, and of sustaining prolonged operations in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. Likewise, it should not be overlooked that this development responds to the regional environment, where military activity in the Indo-Pacific has intensified notably in recent years, with a growing presence of foreign naval forces and combined exercises.
*Cover image used for illustrative purposes
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