Kuala Lumpur / Washington — China’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian, may still lag decades behind U.S. capabilities despite being hailed as a technological breakthrough, according to former U.S. Navy officers and defense analysts.
Experts estimate the Fujian’s flight operations could reach only about 60% of the tempo of America’s 50-year-old USS Nimitz—a surprising limitation for a vessel designed to symbolize Beijing’s emergence as a global maritime power.
A Technological Leap — With Built-In Constraints
Equipped with electromagnetic catapult launch systems — the same cutting-edge technology used on the USS Gerald R. Ford — the Fujian represents a major step forward for China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
Yet analysts say its deck layout, narrower landing angle, and congested launch zones could hinder the carrier’s ability to launch and recover aircraft rapidly during combat.
“The Fujian’s operational tempo appears to be only 60% that of the U.S. Nimitz-class carriers,” said Carl Schuster, a former U.S. Navy captain.
“Its longer landing strip and tighter angles reduce room for maneuvering recovered aircraft and slow flight deck operations.”
High-resolution satellite imagery and official photos show that both of the Fujian’s catapults sit close to the forward landing area, raising concerns that incoming aircraft may temporarily block takeoffs. That configuration, analysts say, could limit simultaneous operations — a critical factor in modern naval warfare.
A Growing Navy, But a Steeper Learning Curve
China has built the world’s largest navy by hull count, with more than 370 commissioned warships, surpassing the U.S. Navy’s 294 deployable vessels.
However, the United States still dominates in tonnage, experience, and global reach, fielding 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, all capable of sustained operations anywhere in the world.
By contrast, China currently operates two carriers — Liaoning and Shandong — both conventionally powered and reliant on “ski-jump” ramps that limit takeoff weight and range. The Fujian, at approximately 80,000 tons, will be China’s first flat-deck, catapult-equipped carrier, and its largest warship ever built.
The USS Nimitz class, introduced in 1975, remains the backbone of U.S. naval air power, each displacing nearly 97,000 tons, carrying over 70 aircraft, and operated by a crew of 5,000 sailors and aviators.
In comparison, China’s Fujian will host around 2,500–3,000 personnel and an air wing of roughly 40 fighters, mostly J-15 and the forthcoming stealth J-35.
“The U.S. Navy has over eight decades of continuous carrier aviation experience,” noted retired Lt. Cmdr. Keith Stewart.
“Carrier operations are among the most dangerous environments on Earth. You only learn by doing — and China is just beginning that journey.”
Strategic Context: The Battle for Maritime Supremacy
Under President Xi Jinping, China has prioritized maritime expansion as central to its global ambitions. The PLAN’s buildup includes next-generation destroyers, nuclear submarines, and amphibious assault ships designed to project power deep into the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command views the Fujian as part of Beijing’s long-term bid to challenge U.S. dominance in the region, particularly near Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Still, defense officials note that China’s carriers lack the global logistical network and combat-tested carrier air wings that make U.S. strike groups uniquely potent.
“Building a carrier is one thing,” Stewart added. “Sustaining it, defending it, and coordinating it in high-tempo operations across oceans — that’s what defines a superpower navy.”
A Symbolic Launch Amid Real Limitations
Satellite imagery from September shows the Fujian docked at Hainan Island, where its commissioning ceremony is expected soon. Meanwhile, the USS Nimitz—commissioned in 1975—remains deployed in the South China Sea on what is likely its final mission before retirement in 2026.
The contrast is striking: a half-century-old American warship still setting global standards, while China’s newest marvel is learning to take its first steps on the high seas.
For Beijing, the Fujian represents progress; for Washington, it’s a reminder that experience still outweighs expansion.
Key Figures: U.S. vs. China Naval Power (2025)
Metric | United States | China
———|—————-|——–
Active Warships | ~294 | ~370
Aircraft Carriers | 11 (all nuclear) | 3 (none nuclear)
Carrier Air Wings | 9 deployable globally | 1 in training
Total Naval Personnel | ~340,000 | ~250,000
Average Carrier Tonnage | 97,000 tons | 60,000–80,000 tons
Global Bases & Logistics | 70+ overseas facilities | <10 regionalBottom Line:
The Fujian marks a milestone for China’s navy — but the gulf between building a supercarrier and mastering carrier warfare remains vast.
As one analyst put it:
“The ocean may be the same, but the experience gap between the U.S. and China is still measured in generations.”