China building fourth aircraft carrier: Report

It is reported that China is building its fourth aircraft carrier while preparing to launch its third aircraft carrier, named Fujian, which has completed sea trials.

Construction of the fourth aircraft carrier is underway at a shipyard in Dalian, Liaoning province, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday, publishing satellite images of the fuselage.

China, which is the last among the major countries to prefer aircraft carriers for its navy, currently has two aircraft carriers: Liaoning, a renovation of the Soviet-era ship that entered service in 2012, and Shandong, the second domestically produced aircraft carrier, which started operating in 2019.
Chinese military spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said last month that the third aircraft carrier, Fujian, which has successfully conducted tests and training, will soon be put into service.

He said that carrier-based J-15T, J-35 and KongJing-600 aircraft successfully completed catapult-assisted takeoff and aborted landing training on the Fujian aircraft carrier.

It is stated that Fujian is the most advanced aircraft carrier with the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) used by the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. All three carriers are conventionally operated. But the fourth carrier could be powered by nuclear propulsion, according to the Post report, which would increase its endurance and global reach and provide significantly more power to run advanced systems.

Like Fujian, EMALS could also include launch and arrested landing systems, he said.

Analysts say China may build more aircraft carriers to operate on various global sea routes amid rising tensions with the United States.