China’s naval expansion is moving forward quickly, with new satellite images showing major progress on what may be its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Analysts say the Type 004, now being built at the Dalian Shipyard in northern China, shows that Beijing wants to extend its military reach well beyond its own shores.

A recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies used commercial satellite images and open-source information to follow the carrier’s progress. According to the report, prefabricated hull sections appeared in early 2025 and, within a few months, formed a clear carrier shape.

Satellite images from May 2026 show the ship is about 938 feet long and 151 feet wide. Experts say it already looks bigger than China’s current Fujian carrier at the same stage. Some think the finished ship could match or even surpass the size of the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class carriers.

Signs point to nuclear propulsion

The CSIS report said there is more evidence that the Type 004 might use nuclear power. Experts found two large spaces inside the ship that appear to be intended for reactor systems. Earlier research had also linked China’s 701st Research Institute to work on a land-based naval reactor prototype.

The carrier is also expected to use electromagnetic catapults to launch aircraft. Analysts think it may have four catapults, one more than the Fujian. This extra system could help launch planes faster and support bigger air missions farther into the Pacific.

The Type 004 is the newest stage in China’s growing aircraft carrier program. First, Beijing turned the old Soviet Varyag into the Liaoning. Then it built the Shandong, which had similar ski-jump features. After that, China launched the Fujian with catapult launch technology. Now, the Type 004 seems to be the next step toward a fully nuclear-powered carrier fleet.

Military analyst Eric Wertheim wrote in a March 2026 Proceedings article that the Fujian took six years from the start of construction to its launch. If China follows the same schedule, the Type 004 might be launched around 2032.

Carrier groups built around layered defense

China’s growing carrier fleet is likely to work with well-protected strike groups. In a July 2024 report for the China Maritime Studies Institute, analyst Daniel Rice described a three-layer defense system around Chinese carriers.

According to Rice, the outer defense zone covers 115 to 249 miles from the carrier and uses J-15 fighter jets and submarines for patrol and attack. The middle ring, from 28 to 115 miles, includes large warships like the Type 052D destroyer and Type 054A frigate, both armed with missiles and anti-submarine gear. The inner layer covers a range of about 328 feet to 28 miles and relies on short-range defensive weapons on the carrier and its escort ships.

China may also protect its carrier groups with anti-ship ballistic missiles, such as the DF-21D and DF-26B, which are sometimes called “carrier killers.” Missile Threat reports that the DF-21D can hit targets 901 to 963 miles away, while the DF-26 can reach about 2,485 miles and threaten U.S. bases on Guam.

Expanding reach into the Pacific and Indian Ocean

Chinese naval planners might use the Type 004 alongside more submarine deployments. In March 2026, Rear Admiral Mike Brookes told the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission that China is quickly building more nuclear submarines and improving shipyards to boost production.

With this plan, nuclear-powered carriers like the Type 004 could travel farther into the Pacific, while regular carriers would focus on missions closer to Taiwan or the South China Sea.

China is also investing in logistics support. This month, the South China Morning Post reported that Beijing may be building the world’s largest naval supply ship. The ship is said to be about 889 feet long and 121 feet wide, and could carry fuel, food, and ammunition for carrier groups far from China.

Despite the rapid buildup, China still faces obstacles. The People’s Liberation Army Navy continues to struggle with pilot shortages and limited operational experience compared to the U.S. Navy, which has used carriers in combat for over a hundred years. Geography is also a problem, since Chinese ships must pass through closely watched areas like the Miyako Strait and Bashi Channel to reach the open Pacific.

For now, the Type 004 is a clear sign of China’s push to become a real blue-water naval power.

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