China has rapidly transformed its naval capabilities over the last two decades, moving from a coastal defense force to a blue-water navy. The presence of aircraft carriers is the most visible symbol of this ambition and technological advancement. Understanding whether China possesses these floating airfields and how they are utilized requires looking at both the operational vessels and their strategic context.
Current Fleet: Liaoning and Shandong
The answer to the question of China having aircraft carriers is a definitive yes, with two operational conventional carriers currently in service. The first of these is the Liaoning, a refurbished Soviet-era vessel that entered service in 2012. Liaoning served as a crucial training platform, allowing the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to develop the complex skills required for flight operations, including pilot training, deck procedures, and air traffic management.
The second carrier is the Shandong, China's first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2019. Shandong represents a significant leap in indigenous shipbuilding capability. While broadly similar in layout to Liaoning, Shandong features a larger island structure, improved catapult systems, and enhanced internal volume, allowing for a greater number of aircraft and crew. These two carriers form the core of China's carrier strike group doctrine, providing the PLAN with continuous at-sea power projection.
Fujian and the Leap to Catapults
The most dramatic development in China's carrier program is the Fujian, the third carrier and the first to feature electromagnetic catapults and arresting gear. Launched in 2022, Fujian marks a qualitative shift in capability. Unlike the steam-assisted take-off on Liaoning and Shandong, electromagnetic catapults allow for the launch of heavier aircraft, including airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) planes and larger fixed-wing drones. This technology is directly comparable to the systems used on the US Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, suggesting a significant advancement in Chinese engineering and a commitment to developing a truly modern naval air arm.
Strategic Purpose and Future Ambitions
These carriers are not intended to replicate the global power projection of the United States Navy. Instead, they serve specific regional objectives. The primary roles include protecting China's growing network of overseas interests, securing sea lines of communication, and enforcing territorial claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea. A carrier provides a mobile command center and a powerful deterrent against regional adversaries, extending the reach of air power far beyond what land-based aircraft can offer.
Looking forward, the PLAN is actively developing additional carriers, including a fourth vessel expected to be larger than Fujian and potentially nuclear-powered. This ambition signals a long-term commitment to building a fleet of carriers that can operate in multiple theaters simultaneously. The integration of these carriers with other naval assets, such as destroyers, frigates, and submarines, creates a formidable Carrier Strike Group capable of sophisticated multi-domain operations.
In assessing China's aircraft carrier fleet, it is clear that the nation has moved decisively beyond the experimental stage. With two operational carriers and a third on the horizon, China has established itself as a major carrier power. The technological leap represented by the Fujian, particularly its electromagnetic systems, positions the PLAN to project global power with increasing sophistication. The trajectory indicates a continued expansion of this capability, reshaping the balance of naval power in the Indo-Pacific region.
