Chinese aircraft carriers: Type 002 'Shandong', Type 003 'Fujian', Type 004

I wonder what really old PLAN veterans would think about this ship, people who served when the PLAN was not a serious Navy and now they operate 3 aircraft carriers, dozens of guided missile destroyers and nuclear submarines.

On the note of Fujian specifically it's a massive step up over the Soviet derived carriers. While they proved invaluable for the PLAN and served a noble purpose for their Navy, the Fujian is simply a very different kind of ship and will provide them with very different capabilities. On top of that it doesn't inherit many of the design flaws/compromises that were present in its predecessors. It's future CSG is definitely something that other ships will stay clear of though.

It has become evident that China definitely knows how to construct proper warships. I wonder if Fujian and the Type 004 will be the catalyst for the JMSDF getting their own proper, purpose built carrier in the future.
 
SUPER=BUG said:
This is the official stance. "We have basically mastered all the construction technologies for aircraft carriers and also possess the most advanced carrier-based fighter jets. The next step is inevitably to achieve nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, and we have the relevant technology for it."

We will see them in the future.It won't be too long before that day comes.
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I still think they're going to build another Type 003 or two before the nuclear carriers can be commissioned.

It's a matter of building the reactor prototypes, training the operators, building the carrier reactors and most importantly the reduction gears (or large drive motors if IEP). Just a lot of lead time where if you're expanding the navy you'd want to retire the Soviet retread ASAP, and while you're at it retire the clone of the retread.
 
EmoBirb said:
It has become evident that China definitely knows how to construct proper warships. I wonder if Fujian and the Type 004 will be the catalyst for the JMSDF getting their own proper, purpose built carrier in the future.
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IMHO, we will definetely see a larger Izumo-successor soon-ish, even a prestige project like a QE-class ship is a quite possible, but more AEGIS ships would be money better spent.

Actually, there’s no credible, lasting military defense against China’s sheer strike potential without matching their scale. Realistically, it is pretty much impossible to defend against China in anything more than a large skirmish, and admitting this doesn't make anyone a PLA-shill.

The only solution is pretty much having an MAD capability of your own to be certain.
 
Scott Kenny said:
I still think they're going to build another Type 003 or two before the nuclear carriers can be commissioned.
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They might be building a Type 003A in Shanghai. There's considerable smoke among credible PLA insiders hinting at a Type 004 and another Type 003 being built simultaneously, though this hasn't been proven for certain yet.
 
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If possible, this head of state once visited a U.S. aircraft carrier in 1980 as a secretary in the Chinese delegation. However, one thing is certain: many years ago, at the crossroads of choosing between steam catapults and electromagnetic catapults, he made the final decision to go with the electromagnetic catapult.
 
Scott Kenny said:
I still think they're going to build another Type 003 or two before the nuclear carriers can be commissioned.
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I believe there will be at most one more Type 003 carrier, and it is even highly possible that none more will be built. Even if one is constructed, it would be significantly improved.

PLAN is not conservative in its technological choice and recently clear indications show that they are exploring more affordable small carriers oriented toward coastal defense. Under these circumstances, spending enormous resources on a flawed design seems illogical--after all, conventionally powered aircraft carriers are ultimately limited in their power generation efficiency.
 
SspewixzzZ said:
PLAN is not conservative in its technological choice and recently clear indications show that they are exploring more affordable small carriers oriented toward coastal defense. Under these circumstances, spending enormous resources on a flawed design seems illogical--after all, conventionally powered aircraft carriers are ultimately limited in their power generation efficiency.
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That may be true, but these smaller vessels are even less capable while still remaining costly, as is the nature of a flat deck. And CVNs are obviously a whole different breed, very expensive but very capable. A second ship in the class would greatly improve the capabilities of the PLAN, as Fujian already offers significantly improved combat value. It would allow them to field two very capable carriers and two less capable ones. It would also ensure that at least one Fujian-Class ship would be at sea at any given times, even if one is down for maintenance.

So constructing a second ship, especially when a CVN can be constructed simultaneously, seems to have little drawbacks in my eyes. While affording several advantages. The PLAN should have the funding for such undertakings after all.
 
EmoBirb said:
That may be true, but these smaller vessels are even less capable while still remaining costly, as is the nature of a flat deck. And CVNs are obviously a whole different breed, very expensive but very capable. A second ship in the class would greatly improve the capabilities of the PLAN, as Fujian already offers significantly improved combat value. It would allow them to field two very capable carriers and two less capable ones. It would also ensure that at least one Fujian-Class ship would be at sea at any given times, even if one is down for maintenance.

So constructing a second ship, especially when a CVN can be constructed simultaneously, seems to have little drawbacks in my eyes. While affording several advantages. The PLAN should have the funding for such undertakings after all.
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Exactly. Though if I were in charge of the PLAN I'd push for having 3x Fujian-class.

Plus there's the pipeline for nuclear-trained personnel and the long-lead items for the CVN. Personnel can be trained up in 2 years, the question is how long it takes to get the reactors, turbines, and main engines/drive motors built.
 
Sorry, missed these earlier.

snne said:
IMHO, we will definetely see a larger Izumo-successor soon-ish, even a prestige project like a QE-class ship is a quite possible, but more AEGIS ships would be money better spent.

Actually, there’s no credible, lasting military defense against China’s sheer strike potential without matching their scale. Realistically, it is pretty much impossible to defend against China in anything more than a large skirmish, and admitting this doesn't make anyone a PLA-shill.

The only solution is pretty much having an MAD capability of your own to be certain.
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And that really grinds into Article 9 for Japan.



fightingirish said:
Here a bird's-eye view of the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian (18). :cool:

View attachment 790811Source:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1987050073168245188
View: https://x.com/Defence_IDA/status/1987050073168245188?s=20
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I just noticed that the foul line for the waist cat does clear the J15 or 16 on the port bow cat.

So they'd be able to launch from the waist cat with BIG fighters on the bow.

I'm still confused as to why the Fujian-class has the port cat where it does, in the way. I guess the 70ft between it and the Ford-class really does make that much difference in the catapults.
 
Another piece of rumour from 约克, who works in China's MIC and has some insider connections. He knew of Yankee’s earlier rumour and had been hesitant about it until now. This is from a stream on 西葛西造舰

While I was in Shanghai, I talked with partner units linked to Jiangnan Shipyard, and our aircraft carrier program is now planned through the sixth hull. It’s also confirmed that construction will proceed simultaneously in the north and the south. We won’t be relying on a single shipyard—two yards will work in parallel, one in the south and one in the north.

He said "yes" confidently when asked if the 003 would have a "sister ship", though the term should be taken a bit loosely here.
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Via SDF, there seem to be good amount of confirmation from credible insiders/watchers that there is indeed a CV being built simultaneously with the CVN along with the fact that possibly a total of 3 new hulls is already ordered including the aforementioned CV and CVN.
 
fightingirish said:
Here a bird's-eye view of the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian (18). :cool:
Attached picture deleted, as @Deino will upload a better version later. :)
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@Deino offers an improved bird's-eye view of the new Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian (18). :)
 

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Tomboy said:
Via SDF, there seem to be good amount of confirmation from credible insiders/watchers that there is indeed a CV being built simultaneously with the CVN along with the fact that possibly a total of 3 new hulls is already ordered including the aforementioned CV and CVN.
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What do we think would be the 3rd ship, if one is a Type 003A and one is a Type 004? a big LHA or similar?
 
lancer21 said:
Oh no no no, quite the opposite. The beauty of the chinese EMALS is that it can tailor literally by the push of a button it's acceleration for each aircraft type offering both the most efficient take-off acceleration profile and the least g strain for the pilot/airframe, this is quite evident in the older EMALS operation video from Fujian.
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i was somewhat tongue in cheek. i am still seriously amazed by the (unloaded) speed of it
 
NMaude said:
A civilian taking those photographs would almost certainly have been arrested by the local security.
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PLA have civilian contractors and normal civilian employees for PR purposes, it's likely a professional photographer taking these pictures.
 
Tomboy said:
PLA have civilian contractors and normal civilian employees for PR purposes, it's likely a professional photographer taking these pictures.
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Good points however I was thinking of a regular civilian not associated in any way with the naval base.
 
Scott Kenny said:
Huh. That pier only seems to have cranes on one side, I don't see where the tracks link up on either end.
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You're really observant! I checked the old pics on Google Earth, and you're right — only the west side docks have cranes. In the historical images, aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships only dock on the west side. Wish the east side had cranes too.
 
TwoTribes said:
You're really observant! I checked the old pics on Google Earth, and you're right — only the west side docks have cranes. In the historical images, aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships only dock on the west side. Wish the east side had cranes too.
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Comes from tripping over the tracks at Delta Pier so much. :D
 
snne said:
They might be building a Type 003A in Shanghai. There's considerable smoke among credible PLA insiders hinting at a Type 004 and another Type 003 being built simultaneously, though this hasn't been proven for certain yet.
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We should either update the thread topic or open a seperate thread, cuz:

1) the existance of box-like nuclear protective covers pretty much confirms that this is indeed a nuclear carrier.

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Screenshot_11-11-2025_111216_www.biblioatom.ru.jpeg 图片_2025-11-11_200515_542 (1).png


2)

Screenshot 2025-11-11 232330.png


I'm surprised to see no one's shared this here yet.
 
Th first 3 images are before the commissioning, but yeah looking forward to see Fujian with a full deck.
 
I am curious how the paint will hold up after numerous deployments. Seems our US ships have either changed to a new non-toxic, California hemp, herbal tea and tofu-based haze gray paint or the CO's don't give a crap about ship upkeep and maintenance or a combination of both. I am glad some of those loser CO's got bumped from their commands.
 

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