China has constructed a prototype nuclear reactor designed for large surface warships, hinting at ambitions to build the country’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, new agency AP reported quoting a research paper. Analysis of recent satellite imagery and Chinese government documents, conducted by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, confirmed that Beijing is working on nuclear propulsion systems suited to a carrier-sized warship. The new reactor prototype, built in the mountainous regions near Leshan in Sichuan province, showcases China’s commitment to developing advanced naval capabilities that could rival global naval powers.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has already become the world’s largest in terms of ship numbers, with rapid modernisation efforts underway. Adding nuclear-powered aircraft carriers to its fleet could greatly enhance its blue-water capabilities, allowing operations far beyond China’s coastal waters and into areas traditionally dominated by the United States. Nuclear-powered carriers offer the advantage of extended operational endurance, as they can remain at sea for longer without the need to refuel, providing greater flexibility and increased room for weaponry and aircraft fuel.
Currently, only the United States and France operate nuclear-powered carriers, with the US boasting 11, allowing it to maintain a significant and mobile presence in regions like the Indo-Pacific. China’s push toward nuclear carriers represents a response to US power and growing Chinese aspirations to project influence across the globe. The Pentagon has expressed concern over China’s modernisation efforts, with its latest report to Congress noting China’s focus on “increasing demands” for its navy to operate at greater distances.
China’s existing carrier fleet includes three vessels, the latest being the Type 003 Fujian, launched in 2022. Unlike previous models based on Soviet designs, the Fujian is China’s first domestically designed carrier, featuring electromagnetic catapults similar to those on US carriers. However, it remains conventionally powered, limiting its operational endurance compared to nuclear-powered counterparts. Recent sea trials of the Fujian mark a milestone in China’s ambitions, with the ship expected to undergo further tests before full deployment.
‘Initially suspected to be a weapons facility’
The Middlebury team’s research into the Leshan site initially suspected it as a facility to produce materials for nuclear weapons, the report said. Researchers using satellite images, public records, project tenders, personnel files, environmental reports, and even citizen complaints about construction noise, researchers identified a prototype naval reactor being built in Mucheng township, 70 miles southwest of Chengdu.. The reactor, housed at a new site known as Base 909, is operated by the Nuclear Power Institute of China and classified under a “national defense designation,” AP reported quoting the 19-page research paper.
Documents revealed that China’s 701 Institute, which develops aircraft carriers, had procured reactor equipment for a “large surface warship” under the Nuclear Power Development Project. This led to the conclusion that the reactor is part of a next-generation aircraft carrier, known as the Longwei or Dragon Might.
“Unless China is developing nuclear-powered cruisers, which were pursued only by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, then the Nuclear Power Development Project most certainly refers to a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier development effort,” AP reported quoting the researchers.
‘Great rejuvenation’
Chinese President Xi Jinping has prioritised the expansion and modernisation of the navy as part of China’s “great rejuvenation” strategy. The recent advancements reflect China’s strategic aims in the South China Sea and towards Taiwan, and its push to assert influence across the Pacific. According to the US Defense Department, China’s maritime emphasis aligns with its shift from coastal defense to “protection missions on the far seas,” seeking to counter the US-led naval presence and to increase regional influence.