China To Launch First Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier By 2027, CSIS Report Reveals

China is possibly planning the launch of its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier by the end of 2027, a report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) revealed, citing images captured by a satellite from China’s Dalian Shipyard.

The report said that it is likely a Type 004 and is being constructed at a rapid pace. Images from the yard suggest that in less than two years, hull components had been prefabricated and even assembled into a clearly recognisable hull, highlighting the strength and pace of Chinese shipbuilding.

According to sources, the hull is 322 m long as seen from the half-completed bow till stern and a width of 46 metres. This is bigger than any other class of surface combatant in the Chinese navy, as per the report.

The vessel’s hull structure reveals it is not a civilian ship and neither its design matches with any other ship in the existing commercial fleet of container vessels, cargo ships or tankers. Its hull shape is similar to naval aircraft carriers, experts suggest.

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