China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operates three aircraft carriers as of late 2025, marking a rapid evolution from a training-focused force into a navy with growing blue-water ambitions. 

The fleet currently consists of the Liaoning, commissioned in 2012; the Shandong, commissioned in 2019; and the Fujian, formally commissioned on November 5, 2025. 

The progression from the first two vessels to the third reflects both technological maturation and a shift in China’s operational intent.

Liaoning, a refurbished former Soviet carrier designated Type 001, and Shandong, the first domestically built Type 002 carrier, both use ski-jump ramps in a STOBAR (short takeoff but arrested recovery) configuration. 

These ships primarily operate variants of the J-15 fighter and have been widely assessed as stepping stones—useful for training aircrews, deck crews, and commanders in carrier operations rather than for sustained power projection.

The commissioning of Fujian represents a qualitative leap. 

Designated Type 003, Fujian is China’s first carrier equipped with a CATOBAR (catapult-assisted takeoff but arrested recovery) system using electromagnetic launch technology. 

This configuration allows the launch of heavier and more capable aircraft than ski-jump decks permit, significantly expanding the carrier air wing’s potential roles.

According to defense assessments, Fujian is expected to operate aircraft such as the J-35 stealth fighter, the upgraded J-15T, and the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. 

The inclusion of fixed-wing AEW&C aircraft, in particular, would enhance situational awareness and command-and-control far beyond the capabilities of helicopter-based systems used on earlier carriers. 

Analysts view this as a decisive step toward parity with established carrier navies in terms of operational concepts, even if experience gaps remain.

Pentagon Projections and Force Growth

U.S. Department of Defense assessments indicate that China aims to field a total of around six operational aircraft carriers by the mid-2030s. 

While phrasing varies across reports—sometimes citing “at least five to six” carriers—the consistent theme is a steady expansion beyond the current three-ship fleet. 

When combined with existing vessels, this trajectory would give China a carrier force of up to nine ships by around 2035, depending on retirement timelines and operational status.

These projections align with earlier statements by Chinese naval figures, including estimates made in 2018–2019 that the PLAN would require five to six carriers to meet its strategic needs. 

Pentagon analysts frame the carrier program as part of a broader naval expansion that has already made the PLAN the world’s largest navy by hull count, with more than 370 ships in service and projections of roughly 435 by 2030.

Construction of a fourth carrier, commonly referred to as Type 004, is assessed to be underway based on satellite imagery from major shipyards such as Dalian and Jiangnan observed since 2024–2025. 

This vessel is widely believed to incorporate further advances, potentially including nuclear propulsion, although no official confirmation has been provided. Nuclear-powered carriers would offer greater endurance and operational flexibility compared to conventionally powered ships.

Strategically, the carrier expansion supports China’s goal of extending naval operations beyond the First Island Chain into areas such as the Philippine Sea and the Indian Ocean. 

The pace of development—from zero operational carriers in 2012 to three by 2025—underscores the scale of China’s indigenous shipbuilding capacity and its determination to close capability gaps with established naval powers. 

While timelines and final numbers remain subject to interpretation, the trajectory points clearly toward a more capable and globally oriented Chinese carrier force over the next decade.