Satellite imagery suggests China's fourth carrier could rival Ford class in size

Vantor imagery shows the Type 004 aircraft carrier under construction in a dry dock at Dalian in China. Work on the bow is now in progress. (Satellite image © 2026 Vantor/© 2026 Janes)

Satellite imagery captured on 4 September indicates that construction of the bulbous bow of China's fourth aircraft carrier has begun at Dalian Shipyard.

This provides the clearest indication yet that the vessel will be substantially larger than previously assessed.

Measurements taken from the vessel's stern to the projected tip of the bulbous bow suggest an overall hull length of between 336 and 339 m once the forward section is completed.

This would place the carrier in the same size category as the US Navy's Gerald R Ford class and potentially make the Chinese vessel marginally longer.

USS Gerald R Ford has an overall length of approximately 333 m and a full-load displacement of about 101,000 tonnes.

China has not officially disclosed the designation, dimensions, displacement, propulsion arrangement, or planned capabilities of the vessel under construction.

The ship is commonly referred to by analysts as the Type 004.

The carrier's size reinforces earlier indications that the vessel could be China's first nuclear-powered surface warship.

Construction of the carrier likely began with prefabricated hull modules in early 2025.

By mid-2025, bottom blocks and keel-related assemblies had appeared in the dry dock at Dalian.

Satellite imagery from November 2025 subsequently showed two distinct compartments, each measuring approximately 15 × 15 m, forming within the hull.

Janes previously assessed that the compartments could accommodate two nuclear reactors.

The apparent multilayered construction of these compartments is consistent with the shielding required around marine reactor spaces, potentially including borated materials and high-density metals.