China's Fujian Aircraft Carrier Flaws Point to Nuclear Power for Next Ship, Says Military Magazine

China’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has significant design flaws that limit its aircraft launch efficiency, according to an analysis in the Chinese military magazine Shipborne Weapons Defence Review. The article argues these issues, stemming from its conventional powerplant, can only be fully solved by making the nation’s next carrier nuclear-powered.

China’s naval ambitions took a monumental leap with the commissioning of its first domestically designed aircraft carrier, the Fujian, in November 2024. As the world’s largest conventional warship at over 80,000 tonnes and the first non-American vessel equipped with advanced electromagnetic catapults, it represents a formidable symbol of military modernisation. However, a critical analysis in a Chinese defence publication suggests the ship has inherent flaws that point to an inevitable next step: a nuclear-powered carrier.

The article in Shipborne Weapons Defence Review, as reported by the South China Morning Post, pinpoints several design problems that “are largely caused by the Fujian’s conventional propulsion system and are mostly related to aircraft operations.” A key issue is the placement of the ship’s island superstructure. Positioned near the middle of the deck, it reduces the efficient flow of aircraft operations compared to U.S. designs. This placement was necessitated by the large exhaust funnel required for the ship’s boilers—a problem a nuclear reactor would eliminate.

The Fujian’s much-touted electromagnetic catapults, which allow it to launch a full spectrum of fighters and drones, are also hampered by the design. While the U.S. Gerald R. Ford-class carriers operate three catapults, the Fujian has only two. Worse, their placement creates bottlenecks. “Many observers have pointed out that one of the Fujian’s catapults encroaches onto the deck, which means it cannot be used when planes are landing,” stated the report. Another catapult is too close to an aircraft elevator, creating a congestion point that slows the launch cycle.

Lu Li-shih, a former Taiwanese navy captain, offered some counterpoints, suggesting the PLA Navy is learning and adapting. He noted that Chinese stealth coatings may allow aircraft to stay on deck longer in humid conditions, potentially offsetting some launch delays. However, the core spatial constraints remain.

The magazine’s central argument is clear: nuclear propulsion is the solution. A nuclear-powered carrier would not need massive boiler exhausts, allowing for a smaller, better-placed island. It would free up enormous space currently used for propulsion fuel, allowing more storage for aircraft fuel and munitions. Furthermore, nuclear plants provide greater power for advanced electronics and faster acceleration. “Using nuclear power would also eliminate the need for propulsion fuel, freeing up more space for fuel used to power warplanes and drones,” the analysis noted.

This debate is not academic. Satellite imagery suggests China is already building a fourth carrier, with widespread speculation that it will be the nation’s first nuclear-powered flattop. The Fujian, therefore, is seen as a vital but transitional step—a masterpiece of conventional engineering that has exposed the practical limits of fossil fuel at sea for a blue-water navy with global aspirations.

For China, the choice appears to be following the path charted by the U.S. Navy decades ago. The Fujian has proven China can build a supercarrier, but mastering the complexities of flight deck efficiency for sustained power projection may require taking the nuclear option.