In line with it’s economic expansion, China is also rapidly expanding it’s military capabilities. In the past 2 decades, the Chinese have focused specifically in boosting it’s aviation industry and it’s maritime capabilities, resulting in a rapid growth of it’s Navy. A key role in China’s military strategy seems to lie in it’s aircraft carriers. From purchasing the uncompleted ex-Soviet carrier Varyag (Kuznetsov class) in 1998, to completing its first domesticly designed and built carriers in 2012 (Type 001 – Liaoning) and 2017 (Type 002 – Shandong). New types (Type 003 and Type 004) are currently under construction and will be of an entirely different design. It will have a displacement of around 85,000 tons, with a CATOBAR configuration and will most likely be fitted with EMALS and even weapons like lasers and railguns. Type 004 will also most likely be nuclear powered, the first Chinese carrier with such propulsion.

By 2030, expert believe China will operate at least 6 heavy aircraft carriers, of whom at least 2 will be nuclear powered. With China becoming a global economic powerhouse (it will most likely surpass the United States as the largest economy by 2025) and with over $ 1,000 billion invested in foreign infrastructure projects, China will need the capability to protect it’s interests by force if necessary, far from it’s home territory. And there’s no better tool for that, then having (nuclear powered) aircraft carriers and their supposting vessels to do just that.

Though there aren’t any pictures available yet of what China’s future aircraft carriers will look like, I made a sketch myself of what I think such aircraft carrier could look like. My design has a length of 336 metres, a maximal beam (or width) of 78 metres and a displacement of around 100,000 tons. It will be nuclear powered and will be able to carry up to 90 fixed wing and rotary aircraft. It’s airwing will operate 5th generation Chinese fighters like the Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang J-31 (both aircraft are will in development, though the J-20 has already seen modest production). The carrier has a CATOBAR configuration with EMALS and for self defence is armed with lasers and railguns. It will also featere a two island design as seen on the British Queen Elizabeth Class.

I need to state that this design is pure fictious and a product of my own imagination. As mentioned above, no pictures have been released yet by the Chinese of what their future super carriers will look like.