Key facts
- Satellite imagery reveals China is building a new, larger support vessel.
- The ship is believed to be destined for the future Type 004 aircraft carrier.
- Its dimensions and design suggest it will be more capable than current support ships.
Satellite imagery indicates that China may be constructing a new, larger support ship that could be intended for its future Type 004 aircraft carrier. The vessel's size and configuration suggest it will be more capable than current support ships, potentially enhancing the operational capacity of China's future carrier battle groups.
The Type 004 is expected to be a supercarrier, possibly featuring electromagnetic catapults and a larger displacement than its predecessors, the Type 001 (Liaoning) and Type 002 (Shandong). The development of a more advanced support ship would align with the operational requirements of such a large and complex vessel.