China is rapidly building what could become its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, according to new satellite images and analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
The carrier, known as the Type 004, is under construction at the Dalian Shipyard in northern China.
Analysts say the project shows Beijing’s efforts to expand its naval reach beyond nearby waters and strengthen its presence across the Indo-Pacific.
CSIS said prefabricated hull sections first appeared at the shipyard in early 2025. Within months, the sections formed a clear aircraft carrier shape, showing the speed of China’s shipbuilding programme.
Satellite images from May 2026 showed the ship measuring about 286 metres (938 feet) long and 46 metres (151 feet) wide.
Analysts said it already appears larger than China’s Fujian carrier at the same stage of construction and could eventually match or exceed the size of the US Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class carriers.
The report also said there are growing signs that the
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