China Has Built A Nuclear Reactor To Run Its Aircraft Carrier, And The U.S. Navy Is On High Alert

The U.S. Navy is on high alert as China makes a significant advancement in its naval capabilities with the development of a nuclear-powered propulsion system for an aircraft carrier. According to Middlebury Institute of International Studies analysis and Associated Press (AP) access to satellite photos and documents, American researchers have verified that China has developed a land-based prototype nuclear reactor that is strong enough to propel a large warship. This development suggests that China may construct its first aircraft carrier fueled by nuclear energy.

Although they take longer to build than conventional carriers, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers provide unmatched maritime endurance, enabling ships to stay in service for far extended periods of time without refueling. This makes it possible for these battleships to devote more room to innovative onboard systems, personnel supplies, and weapons. Only the United States and France currently have nuclear-powered carriers, but if China is successful, it may soon be the third country to do so, giving its already sizable naval fleet much more strategic power.

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), which boasts the world’s largest number of naval vessels, would gain even more operational reach with nuclear-powered carriers. This development would allow Beijing to extend its influence across key maritime regions and increase its presence globally, posing a challenge to U.S. authority in contested waters. While the U.S. currently operates 11 nuclear carriers, France has one, and China’s fleet, with 234 warships, is modernizing rapidly compared to the 219 ships in the U.S. Navy’s fleet.

The newly commissioned Fujian carrier, currently China’s largest conventionally powered aircraft carrier, demonstrates the country’s naval ambitions with advanced electromagnetic catapults for launching heavier aircraft. China’s aggressive pace in shipbuilding and potential use of nuclear propulsion could significantly shift global naval dynamics, prompting the U.S. to accelerate its fleet modernization efforts.