The satellite images of the Shipyard of Dalian, in the province of Liaoning, point to a key advance in China’s naval strategy: the possible construction of their fourth carrier. Known as Type 004, this ship would stand out for integrating an electromagnetic catapult system to launch airplanes and drones, in addition to having a greater displacement than the previous models. It is also speculated with the incorporation of nuclear propulsion, which would mark a significant leap in the operational capacity of the Chinese Navy.
As The War Zone points outthe images obtained by Airbus and accessible on Google Earth correspond to last year, although they have recently earned attention. The satellite view suggests that the aircraft carriers continues at an early construction phase, with structures that seem to fit with the catapult system. In addition, models of a J-15 Flanker hunting and a naval helicopter from the Z-8 series have been identified. These types of elements are not accidental: they are usually used in the tests and the development of new aircraft carriers.
A project that has been spinning for years
Speculation about this aircraft carriers began almost a decade ago and gained strength in 2017, when a porch crane was installed in the Jiangnan shipyard. However, that project did not prosper and the rumors continued to emerge sporadically. It was not until March 2024 when the Admiral and political commissioner of the Chinese Navy, Yuan Huazhi, officially confirmed its existence. He assured that they did not face inconveniences and said that it would soon be announced if the aircraft carrier will have Nuclear propulsion.
As we mentioned before, one of the greatest advantages of this aircraft carriers will be its catapult system, which would allow it to be at the level of the American R. Ford in this aspect. This offers key benefits, such as the ability to launch heavier planes. For the Chinese Navy, this means more flight autonomy thanks to a greater fuel load and more weapons capacity. If the nuclear propulsion is confirmed, the ship could operate without geographical restrictions, with a practically unlimited range.
The models in Dalian’s shipyard
You may ask what kind of aircraft will launch the TyPE 004. For now, there is no official confirmation, but analysts believe they will operate with KJ-600 aircraft, biturbohélice and comparable to the E-2 Hawkeye of the US Navy. These are aircraft of Early Warning and Airborne Controldesigned to provide surveillance, recognition and air space management. Equipped with a long -range radar, they can detect and track both aircraft and enemy vessels at large distances.
Although there is no official confirmation, analysts suggest that Type 004 will operate with the furtive hunting J-35, optimized for missions in aircraft carriers and with advanced stealth technology. This would be supported by improved versions of J-15, a versatile hunting adapted to electromagnetic catapults. In addition, the incorporation of unmanned aircraft is expected, expanding their tactical capacities. With this combination, the Chinese Navy would reinforce its air domain in the open sea, integrating manned airplanes and drones in joint operations.
Images | Google Earth screen capture
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