China building its fourth nuclear power-capable aircraft carrier, US working on two, Indian Navy…
New Delhi: China is building its fourth aircraft carrier to strengthen its navy. It is being constructed in Dalian, Liaoning Province. China currently has two aircraft carriers: the Liaoning and the Shandong, built by China and commissioned into the Navy in 2019.
Third aircraft carrier to be commissioned soon
China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is soon to be commissioned into the People’s Liberation Army Navy. The Fujian recently completed trials in the South China Sea. It is China’s newest and most advanced ship. It is equipped with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which is also available on the US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. This technology enables the quick and easy launch of aircraft.
The fourth carrier may be nuclear-powered
Fighter aircraft such as the J-15T, J-35, and KongJing-600 have already conducted take-off and landing exercises on Fujian. The first three aircraft carriers run on conventional fuel. However, it is being said that the fourth carrier will be nuclear-powered, allowing it to stay at sea for longer periods.
Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang did not provide any details on this. However, last year, Yuan Huazhi, Political Commissar of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, stated that it would soon be known whether the fourth aircraft carrier would be nuclear-powered.
India’s aircraft carriers
India currently has two aircraft carriers. The first is the INS Vikramaditya, which was purchased from Russia and has been in service with the Navy since 2013. The second is INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, which was commissioned into the Navy in 2022.
US building two aircraft carriers
Experts believe that due to increasing tensions with the US, China will build more aircraft carriers to maintain its dominance over various sea lanes around the world. The USA is building two nuclear-powered supercarriers, the USS John F. Kennedy and the USS Enterprise. However, the delivery of both ships is facing significant delays.
The USS Kennedy will join the US Navy in 2022, while the USS Enterprise is expected to be delivered in 2030.
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