Satellite Analysis Reveals China’s Work on Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

China has developed a land-based prototype nuclear reactor for a large surface warship, according to new analysis of satellite imagery and Chinese government documents.
Research by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California revealed that China is actively working on a nuclear propulsion system for a carrier-sized warship.
It marks a significant step forward for the country’s potential first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
There has been speculation for some years about China’s plans for a nuclear-powered carrier.
The research suggests that the addition of nuclear-powered carriers would enhance China’s ability to operate globally, supporting its ambitions to build a ‘blue-water’ navy.
China’s navy, the world’s largest by numbers of vessels, has been rapidly modernizing. Nuclear carriers offer extended operational range since they don’t require refueling, and their larger power capacities support advanced systems and longer endurance at sea.
The U.S. and France are the only countries currently operating nuclear-powered carriers, with the U.S. Navy having 11 in total, which ensures a constant global maritime presence particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
China currently has three conventional carriers, with the Type 003 Fujian being the first domestically designed and built. While it has announced plans for a fourth carrier, China has not confirmed whether the new ship will be nuclear or conventionally powered.
The Pentagon is increasingly concerned about China’s naval modernization, including the construction of new carriers.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, China’s naval expansion reflects a growing emphasis on operating further from its shores to meet global maritime demands.
This aligns with President Xi Jinping’s broader objective of transforming China into a leading maritime power.
Middlebury’s researchers initially investigated a site in Sichuan, suspecting the construction of a reactor for weapons-grade plutonium or tritium.
However, analysis of satellite images, official documents, and environmental studies pointed to the development of a prototype reactor for a large warship.
The reactor is operated by China’s Nuclear Power Institute.
Documents from the 701 Institute, responsible for aircraft carrier development, show that it has acquired reactor equipment specifically intended for a large surface warship.
This, combined with the project’s national defense designation, led the researchers to conclude that the reactor is intended for a next-generation aircraft carrier.
President Xi has made naval expansion a key component of his vision for China’s resurgence.
The country’s 2019 defense white paper stated that China’s navy is shifting from a focus on near-sea defense to global ‘far-sea’ missions.
Experts believe that even if the fourth carrier is conventionally powered, China’s shipyards have the capacity to develop multiple carriers simultaneously, suggesting that a nuclear-powered carrier could be in production alongside conventional ships.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press