China's New Supercarrier: A Nuclear Giant to Outmatch US Ford Class

• China's latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has serious design flaws, particularly with its flight deck layout and catapult system, hindering simultaneous take-offs and landings.
• The Fujian's 'island superstructure' placement and catapult interference limit aircraft movement and reduce its operational tempo to about 60% of US Nimitz-class carriers.
• These shortcomings are driving China to develop a much larger, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, potentially exceeding the US Gerald R. Ford in size (110,000-120,000 tons).
• The new Type-004 carrier is expected to feature four electromagnetic catapults, a redesigned deck, and an aft-shifted island to overcome Fujian's limitations.
• While Fujian is useful for regional operations, a nuclear-powered carrier would enable China to project sustained power globally, a key step towards a 'blue-water navy'.

Why It Matters: China is developing a nuclear-powered supercarrier, larger than the US Ford class, to overcome design flaws in its Fujian carrier.