China’s Growing Aircraft Carrier Fleet: Rising Naval Power

In recent years, China has steadily expanded its naval capabilities, with a particular focus on aircraft carriers. Once limited to a single converted vessel, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) now operates multiple carriers, marking a significant shift in regional and global maritime power. Understanding this growth provides insight into China’s strategic ambitions and its evolving ability to project power far from its shores.

The Origins of China’s Carrier Program

China’s aircraft carrier program began modestly. In the late 1990s, China purchased the unfinished Soviet carrier Varyag and eventually converted it into the PLAN’s first operational carrier, Liaoning, commissioned in 2012. This ship primarily served as a training platform, helping the Chinese navy develop the necessary skills for carrier-based operations, including aircraft takeoffs and landings, deck handling, and coordination with other fleet elements.

Liaoning’s introduction was a critical learning step, allowing China to study carrier operations and train personnel before constructing domestically built carriers. It laid the groundwork for subsequent ships designed and built entirely in China.

Current Fleet: Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian

By 2025, China officially operates three aircraft carriers, each representing different stages of the nation’s naval capabilities.

Liaoning (Type 001)
As the PLAN’s first carrier, Liaoning remains a vital training and experimental platform. Though based on an older Soviet design, it allowed China to gain practical experience with carrier aviation and naval aviation logistics.

Shandong (Type 002)
Commissioned in 2019, Shandong is China’s first domestically constructed carrier. Like Liaoning, it uses a ski-jump system for aircraft launch. Shandong improved on Liaoning’s design, offering better internal layout, more efficient flight deck operations, and enhanced overall capabilities.

Fujian (Type 003)
The most advanced carrier in China’s fleet, Fujian was commissioned in November 2025. Unlike its predecessors, Fujian uses electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) instead of a ski-jump, enabling the launch of heavier aircraft with larger payloads. It has a displacement exceeding 80,000 tons, making it significantly larger than Liaoning or Shandong. Fujian’s catapult system allows for a wider range of aircraft and mission flexibility, signaling China’s move toward a true blue-water navy capable of extended operations far from home ports.

Technology and Operational Capabilities

Fujian’s technological advancements mark a turning point in China’s naval aviation. Electromagnetic catapults enable the launch of heavier fighters, early-warning aircraft, and potentially unmanned platforms. Its modern air wing, combined with increased deck space and improved logistics systems, allows for sustained operations and broader mission profiles.

The earlier carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, continue to play essential roles. Liaoning remains a training platform, while Shandong participates in routine patrols and exercises. Together, the three carriers demonstrate China’s growing proficiency in carrier-based aviation and operational readiness.

Strategic Implications

The expansion of China’s carrier fleet carries significant strategic consequences:

Power Projection
With multiple carriers, China can maintain a continuous naval presence in critical maritime regions, including the South China Sea, East China Sea, and beyond. Rotating carriers for training, maintenance, and operational deployment ensures sustained presence and readiness.

Regional Influence
China’s carriers enhance its ability to assert influence over disputed maritime areas and strengthen deterrence against regional adversaries. A visible carrier presence increases Beijing’s capacity to shape maritime security dynamics in its favor.

Global Naval Balance
While China’s fleet remains smaller than the U.S. Navy’s carrier force, Fujian’s capabilities narrow the technological gap. Catapult-assisted operations allow for heavier aircraft, broader mission profiles, and more versatile deployments. This growth challenges neighboring navies and requires strategic adjustments in the Indo-Pacific.

Recent Milestones

Several recent developments highlight the progress of China’s carrier program:

• In 2024, China conducted exercises with multiple carriers simultaneously, demonstrating coordination and operational maturity.
  
• Fujian successfully completed sea trials involving aircraft launches, deck operations, and integration of advanced systems, signaling readiness for operational deployment.
  
• With Fujian’s commissioning in 2025, China officially achieved a fleet capable of continuous carrier operations, a milestone in its naval modernization.
  

These milestones illustrate not only technical progress but also a shift toward a more sophisticated and capable maritime force.

Challenges Ahead

Despite rapid progress, China faces several challenges:

• Operational Experience: Running multiple carriers requires extensive training, logistics, and coordination. Full operational proficiency will take years to achieve.
  
• Maintenance and Support: Carriers demand complex support fleets, including destroyers, supply vessels, and submarines, to operate effectively on extended missions.
  
• Regional Tensions: Carrier deployments near contested areas could heighten regional tensions, requiring careful diplomatic and strategic management.
  

China’s naval leadership appears committed to addressing these challenges as it continues fleet expansion and develops next-generation carriers.

Future Outlook

China’s aircraft carrier program is set to expand further. Plans for the Type 004 nuclear-powered carrier are already underway, and experts project that China may operate five to six carriers by the 2030s. This growth will enhance its ability to project power far from its coasts, conduct sustained blue-water operations, and influence maritime security across the Indo-Pacific.

The PLAN’s trajectory reflects a broader goal: transforming from a regional coastal defense force into a modern, blue-water navy capable of global operations. The combination of advanced carriers, trained personnel, and supporting fleets positions China as an increasingly influential naval power.

Conclusion

China’s growing aircraft carrier fleet represents a remarkable evolution in the nation’s naval capabilities. From the converted Liaoning to the advanced Fujian, the program reflects strategic ambition, technological progress, and operational maturity. As China continues to expand its fleet, the balance of naval power in the Indo-Pacific and beyond is likely to shift, signaling a new era of maritime influence for the country.

By 2025, China has demonstrated the ability to maintain a modern carrier force, with the potential to continue growing in size, capability, and global reach. Its focus on technology, training, and fleet integration underscores a long-term commitment to becoming a formidable maritime power.

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