Chinese Supercarrier Fujian (top) and USS Gerald Ford
China’s new supercarrier, the Fujian, has officially joined the People’s Liberation Army Navy, marking the first time in eight decades that a navy other than the United States operates a carrier with comparable capability to America’s most advanced class, the USS Gerald Ford. The two ships now represent the cutting edge of global carrier design, though their approaches to power, performance, and strategy differ sharply.
At first glance, size is the clearest distinction. The Gerald Ford displaces about 100,000 tons, roughly 17.5 percent more than the Fujian’s 85,000 tons. It also boasts four electromagnetic catapults compared to Fujian’s three, giving it a roughly 33 percent advantage in sortie generation, meaning it can launch and recover aircraft faster during combat operations.
Chinese People`s Liberation Army Navy Supercarrier Fujian
Propulsion is another key difference. The Gerald Ford relies on twin A1B nuclear reactors, offering near-unlimited range but at enormous cost and with lengthy maintenance demands. The Fujian, meanwhile, uses the world’s first Medium-Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) integrated power system on an aircraft carrier, an innovative and highly efficient design. While it lacks the endurance of nuclear propulsion, it is far cheaper, easier to maintain, and allows the ship to spend more time at sea. That trade-off suits China’s regional defense goals in East Asia better than America’s global power projection strategy.
The Gerald Ford program, though technologically ambitious, has struggled with performance issues and cost overruns. Persistent problems with weapons elevators, electromagnetic catapults, and radar systems delayed its first deployment by five years. A U.S. oversight report even called the project “how not to build a ship.” Fujian, by contrast, appears to have had a smoother development and is expected to begin operations by 2026, only a year after commissioning.
Where the Fujian could outshine its American rival is in its air wing. China’s carrier will host J-15T fighters, J-15DT electronic warfare jets, and the stealthy J-35, supported by KJ-600 early warning aircraft. The U.S. Navy’s Ford still relies on older F/A-18E/F Super Hornets while struggling to fully integrate the F-35C. Chinese carrier aircraft generally have longer range, larger radar systems, and higher payload capacity.
U.S. Navy Supercarrier USS Gerald Ford
Looking ahead, the Fujian could gain a decisive lead. Budget cuts have slowed America’s F/A-XX sixth-generation carrier fighter program, while China’s own sixth-generation project is progressing quickly, potentially giving Beijing’s carriers next-generation aircraft years before the U.S. fleet gets them.
Cost comparisons are equally stark: the Fujian reportedly cost about $6 billion to build, while the Gerald Ford came in at over $17.5 billion. For now, both carriers are near equals, the Ford excelling in power and endurance, the Fujian in efficiency and air superiority. But by the mid-2030s, if China’s technological pace continues, the balance could tilt decisively eastward.