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As of 2024[update], the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has two active carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, with the third, Fujian, currently undergoing sea trials.[1] A fourth carrier, currently called "Type 004" and featuring nuclear propulsion, might be under construction. Wang Yunfei, a retired PLA Navy officer[2] and other naval experts[3] projected in 2018/2019 that China might possess five or six aircraft carriers by the 2030s.[4]
In the years after 1985 China acquired four retired aircraft carriers for study, namely, the British-built Australian HMAS Melbourne and the ex-Soviet carriers Minsk, Kiev and Varyag. The Varyag later underwent an extensive refit to be converted into the Liaoning, China's first operational aircraft carrier, which also served as a basis for China's subsequent design iterations. China's PLAN had had ambitions to develop and operate aircraft carriers since the 1970s.
- ^ "China's aircraft carrier Fujian sets out for maiden sea trials". Xinhua. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "China plans to have five aircraft carriers in future: Chinese experts". The Economic times. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "China will build 4 nuclear aircraft carriers in drive to catch US Navy, experts say". South China Morning Post. 6 February 2019.
- ^ "China's carrier-aviation developments: making a difference". IISS.