How Many Aircraft Carriers Does China Have? Liaoning to Fujian
China has three aircraft carriers in service: the Liaoning, the Shandong and the Fujian, which was commissioned in November 2025. That gives it the second-largest carrier force in the world after the United States. The Fujian is the first Chinese carrier with electromagnetic catapults, a technology only the newest American carriers share, and satellite images suggest a fourth, larger carrier is under construction at Dalian.
This guide covers each ship, the aircraft they carry and how far China still has to go to match the US Navy.
How many aircraft carriers does China have?
China’s carrier programme began with a half-built Soviet hull bought from Ukraine in 1998 and towed to Dalian. Rebuilt as the Liaoning, it entered service in 2012 and served as a training ship. The Shandong, an improved copy built in China, followed in 2019. The Fujian, an entirely new design, is the first that can compare with American carriers in size and in how it launches aircraft.
| Ship | Type | In service | Displacement | Launch system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liaoning (16) | Type 001 | 2012 | About 60,000 t | Ski jump |
| Shandong (17) | Type 002 | 2019 | About 60,000-70,000 t | Ski jump |
| Fujian (18) | Type 003 | 2025 | About 80,000 t+ | Electromagnetic catapults |
| Fourth carrier | Type 004 (reported) | Under construction | Larger; possibly nuclear-powered | Catapults (expected) |
Liaoning and Shandong
The Liaoning and Shandong are conventionally powered carriers that launch aircraft from a ski-jump ramp at the bow. The ramp is simpler than a catapult, but it limits the weight at which the J-15 fighters can take off, so they carry less fuel and fewer weapons, and it rules out heavy support aircraft such as airborne early-warning planes. Each ship carries around 30 to 40 aircraft, including J-15 fighters and helicopters. Both now regularly sail beyond the first island chain, and in 2025 they operated at the same time in the western Pacific for the first time.
Fujian: the catapult carrier
The Fujian was launched in Shanghai in 2022 and commissioned on Hainan island in November 2025. Its three electromagnetic catapults let it launch heavier aircraft with full fuel and weapons, including the J-35 stealth fighter, the J-15T and the KJ-600 airborne early-warning aircraft, which gives the carrier group a far longer view of the sea and sky around it. It is conventionally powered, which limits its endurance compared with American nuclear carriers. Its aircraft are described in our guide to Chinese fighter jets.
The next carrier: Type 004
Satellite images of the Dalian shipyard have shown a large new hull under construction since 2024, widely reported to be China’s fourth carrier, the Type 004. Some analysts believe it will be nuclear-powered, which would allow it to stay at sea for much longer, though China has not confirmed this. China is also building the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, which has its own catapult for drones and is covered later in this series.
How does China compare with the United States?
The US Navy has 11 nuclear-powered carriers and decades of experience in operating them in combat, and each of its larger carriers carries more aircraft than a Chinese ship. China’s three carriers are still learning to operate as a group, and its pilots are still building experience with catapult launches. But China’s shipyards can build large warships far faster than American ones, and with three carriers in service and a fourth under construction, the gap is narrowing. Britain’s two carriers are described in our guide to British aircraft carriers.
Frequently asked questions
How many aircraft carriers does China have?
Three: the Liaoning, the Shandong and the Fujian. A fourth is reported to be under construction at Dalian.
What is China’s newest aircraft carrier?
The Fujian, commissioned in November 2025. It is China’s first carrier with electromagnetic catapults.
Does China have a nuclear aircraft carrier?
Not yet. All three of its carriers are conventionally powered. Analysts believe the fourth, the Type 004, may be nuclear-powered.
How big is the Fujian?
It displaces an estimated 80,000 tonnes or more, making it the largest warship China has built.
What aircraft do Chinese carriers carry?
J-15 fighters and helicopters. The Fujian can also launch the J-35 stealth fighter and the KJ-600 early-warning aircraft.
How many aircraft carriers does the US have compared with China?
The United States has 11 nuclear-powered carriers, against China’s three.
- US Department of Defense – Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2025: media.defense.gov
- Breaking Defense – China’s parade shows off nuclear triad and new aircraft (September 2025): breakingdefense.com
