The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) currently operates two aircraft carriers, the Type 001 Liaoning (CVS-16) and the Type 002 Shandong (CVS-17), while its third flattop, the Type 003 Fujian (CVS-18) has been conducting sea trials and is expected to enter service by the end of next year.

However, a fourth carrier was recently spotted at the Guangzhou Shipyard International's facilities in Southern China. The Photos and videos have circulated on social media, but few details remain. What is known is that it is about 200 meters (656 feet) in length, shorter than even the Soviet-made Type 001.

"While the ship's size and configurations are similar to the Chinese naval Type 075 landing helicopter dock, its light aircraft carrier design with three, instead of two, protruding island-like structures has made it a first of its kind," suggested a report from The South China Morning Post on Tuesday.

Not Military – Not Likely 

"CSSC Nakafune No. 1. The structure is a civilian ship (although the military is involved in the planning) and is not intended to be used as an aircraft carrier. The main engine is a diesel engine, although the method is unknown. It is expected to be used primarily as a test platform, but in the future, it could be deployed to the South China Sea to support the CPG helicopters and UAVs," A recent post on X explained.

According to The War Zone, the new vessel may be a civilian research ship, but would still be capable of supporting PLAN operations. Guangzhou Shipyard International Company, a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) is primarily focused on commercial vessels.

Yet, the vessel does have the many features expected on an aircraft carrier, even one that is dedicated to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including a bridge that could be employed to coordinate the landing of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. It is also equipped with an enclosed mast, which likely houses a naval radar system.

Such capabilities aren't exactly overkill for a commercial vessel, but Beijing hasn't been very forthcoming about this new flattop. As The War Zone also reported, construction only began this past spring and it was launched between mid-September and mid-October.

It was around the time that this flattop was laid down that there were reports that China was also building a dedicated drone carrier at the Jiangsu Dayang Marine Shipyard outside of Shanghai.

"Hidden away in a shipyard on the Yangtze, far upriver from the major yards at Shanghai, is a new aircraft carrier. It's China's fourth, a ship whose mere existence has not been reported before. Only China can build an aircraft carrier in relative secrecy," naval analyst H I Sutton wrote for Naval News in May.

A Fleet of Flattops?

While these vessels are far smaller than the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered supercarriers and even smaller than the sea service's amphibious assault ships, there is a danger that China is stealthily massing a fleet of these compact flattops. These could support large fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at sea and protect the true carriers that operate with manned aircraft.

Though far less capable than a modern carrier, these could be somewhat disposable in wartime, especially if these can operate with relatively small crews. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy's carriers cost billions of dollars and take nearly a decade to construct.

Perhaps China is seeking to take flattops in a different direction, and the U.S. would be wise to pay attention.

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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