Over the past decade, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China has established itself as a naval force with oceanic projection. This is based on the increasing tonnage of its fleet, which is being equipped with a large number of advanced and more sophisticated combat ships, among which the new generation of aircraft carriers, led by the Type 003 Fujian, stands out. While it progresses through its sea trials and its future Carrier Air Wing takes shape, international specialists are focusing on the next major milestone for the Asian giant, which will materialize with the construction of the future Type 004. Although there is little official information, various satellite images have revealed what could be details of its construction, characteristics, and capabilities.
In recent weeks, a series of satellite images captured by Google Maps has drawn the attention of naval experts. These images focus on the Dalian shipyard, located in Liaoning Province, where a module resembling a section of an aircraft carrier’s deck in shape and features has been observed. Additionally, near this structure, full-scale mock-ups of J-15 Flanker fighters and a Z-8 naval helicopter—frequently used for testing on Chinese aircraft carriers—have also been spotted.
Although reports are not conclusive, some suggest that it may indeed be a construction module for the future Type 004, while others indicate that it might be a structure used for testing and evaluations aimed at improving the construction modules that will be used in the future aircraft carrier.
This appears to align with the stance of naval expert Alex Luck, who provided comments on the structure to The War Zone portal. While he remains inconclusive, stating that it is too early to draw conclusions, he noted that the module’s location at the Dalian shipyard aligns with efforts for the construction of the Type 004. He added that the first sections of the Type 003 Fujian, observed in 2018, corresponded to the lower hull of the ship.
However, he also pointed out that test modules serving as demonstrators for the future Fujian were also observed in 2013, suggesting that this approach is being adopted again by the Chinese shipyards involved in the project.
Regardless of speculation, the Type 004—still without an official designation and expected to emerge in the coming years—will be significantly more advanced than the current Liaoning and Shandong, presumably following a design similar to the Fujian. One key question is its propulsion system, with a remote possibility that it will be nuclear-powered. Alternatively, following an incremental approach, it may retain conventional propulsion while nuclear reactor technology continues to be refined.
Like the Fujian, it is expected that the new carrier will benefit from operational experience and the maturation of various technologies and operational methods deployed by the Type 003. Specifically, its CATOBAR configuration will replace the STOBAR setup seen in the Liaoning and Shandong, incorporating new electromagnetic catapults similar to the EMALS system used on the U.S. Gerald R. Ford class carriers.
This would allow the Type 004 to deploy a powerful Carrier Air Wing consisting of carrier-based J-15T fighters (a new Flanker family variant adapted for CATOBAR operations), J-15D electronic warfare aircraft, and the new KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft, currently in development. The development of the fifth-generation J-35 aircraft for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, which also has a carrier-based variant, should also be noted.
Beyond speculation, the construction of the Type 004 is a fact and is currently in its early stages, while the Type 003 continues its sea trials and system tests ahead of its entry into service, for which no specific date has been set yet.
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