China Fujian vs. U.S. Ford: China’s New Aircraft Carrier Challenges U.S. Navy’s Most Advanced Warship.

China has commissioned its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian (Type 003), signaling a leap into next-generation naval aviation. The milestone pits Fujian directly against the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford class, intensifying the race for carrier dominance.

China’s Fujian (Type 003) has officially entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy, marking the nation’s transition into the electromagnetic launch era. It is the first non-American carrier to feature an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), drawing immediate comparisons to the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford class. Defense analysts describe the Fujian–Ford matchup as a defining moment in the global balance of sea power, with both nations showcasing their most advanced maritime technologies in the Indo-Pacific.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Side by side: China’s Type 003 Fujian and the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford represent the forefront of carrier technology. While both feature electromagnetic launch systems and flat deck designs, the Ford holds the edge in nuclear endurance, combat-proven air wing integration, and global strike capability. Fujian narrows the gap, signaling a strategic shift in the Indo-Pacific maritime balance. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group editing)

Although both ships are packed with cutting-edge technology, their fundamental design choices and operational realities reveal different strategic visions and lingering capability gaps between these two naval powers.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) displaces approximately 100,000 tons at full load. Its flight deck measures 333 meters in length and 78 meters in beam. Propelled by two A1B nuclear reactors, the ship can sustain speeds exceeding 30 knots for indefinite periods. This propulsion system removes operational limitations, leaving only crew endurance and aircraft logistics as constraining factors. The Ford is outfitted with four EMALS catapults and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG). Its twin reactors generate more than 600 megawatts of electricity, triple that of Nimitz-class carriers. This power surplus supports future energy weapons, more advanced sensors, and expanded aircraft operations.

In comparison, Fujian is estimated to displace between 80,000 and 85,000 tons, with a length of 316 meters and a beam of 76 meters. Unlike its American counterpart, Fujian is conventionally powered, most likely through gas turbines or diesel-electric systems. This limits its deployment range and endurance. The ship features three EMALS catapults and an indigenous arresting gear system. While this brings China into the CATOBAR era, early assessments suggest its EMALS may deliver less energy per launch compared to Ford’s more powerful system.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the U.S. Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, features nuclear propulsion, EMALS catapults, and a next-generation air wing capable of global power projection. Designed for high-tempo operations, it represents the pinnacle of carrier strike capability and sets the benchmark for 21st-century naval warfare. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

Both vessels represent a shift in carrier aviation toward electromagnetic systems and flat-deck operations. However, the Ford-class has already fielded a fully integrated, combat-proven air wing. According to U.S. Navy data, the carrier typically operates around 75 aircraft and is scalable up to 90. A standard Carrier Air Wing (CVW) configuration aboard the Ford may include:

- Approximately 40 to 44 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multirole fighters
- 5 EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft
- 4 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control platforms
- 6 MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters
- 4 MH-60S utility and search and rescue helicopters
- 10 F-35C Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighters, with integration ongoing
- Future additions will include MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial refueling drones, with initial operational capability expected by 2026

This composition enables the Ford to execute a wide range of missions, including strike, electronic attack, airborne early warning, air superiority, anti-submarine warfare, and unmanned support. The ship’s modern layout, automated weapons elevators, and flight-deck innovations enable high-tempo flight operations. Under surge conditions, the Ford is designed to support up to 160 sorties per day, depending on mission demands and air wing composition.

China’s Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier is the PLAN’s most advanced warship to date, featuring EMALS catapults and a flat deck design for fixed-wing operations. As China’s first CATOBAR carrier, Fujian marks a major leap in naval aviation capability and signals Beijing’s ambition to project power beyond its regional waters. (China Social Network)

In contrast, Fujian is entering a critical testing and integration phase. Open-source defense estimates suggest the ship will be able to host 48 to 60 fixed-wing aircraft and 12 to 15 helicopters. This would give it an air group of approximately 60 to 75 aerial platforms. While no official data from the PLAN has confirmed this breakdown, most analysts expect a future air wing that includes:

- 24 to 30 J-15T “Flying Shark” multirole fighters, upgraded for catapult launches
- 12 to 18 J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters, currently undergoing flight trials
- 4 to 6 KJ-600 turboprop airborne early warning aircraft, still under sea-based testing
- 6 to 8 Z-18F or Z-20 anti-submarine and utility helicopters
- Potential unmanned additions, such as the GJ-11 stealth drone or other PLAN-specific UAVs

The aircraft types reflect China’s intent to build a balanced naval air wing, modeled on the U.S. approach, capable of executing strike, AEW&C, ASW, and stealth missions. However, the capabilities of these platforms are still under development. The J-35 has not yet reached carrier qualification, and the KJ-600 has not yet declared initial operational capability. Moreover, PLAN rotary-wing assets currently lack the advanced mission systems, survivability upgrades, and operational track record seen in the U.S. MH-60R/S series.

In the domain of sensors and battle management, the Ford-class is ahead. Its Dual Band Radar combines X-band and S-band AESA arrays, allowing simultaneous target tracking, fire control, and situational awareness. It is fully linked into the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) network, providing real-time data sharing across the fleet. The ship also fields Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) Block II and Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) for close-in defense.

Fujian carries dual Type 346A AESA radars, similar to those on China’s Type 055 destroyers. It is also equipped with HQ-10 short-range missiles and the Type 1130 close-in weapons system. Although modern by PLAN standards, these systems are not yet proven in joint or networked maritime combat. The ship’s combat management system has not been publicly disclosed and is presumed to be evolving alongside China’s broader fleet digitization initiatives.

Endurance remains another critical differentiator. The Ford-class can operate continuously for 20 to 25 years without reactor refueling, supported by a global network of logistics bases and replenishment ships. This gives U.S. carrier strike groups unmatched operational reach. In contrast, Fujian will depend on conventional fuel and PLAN logistics ships, which limits its range of continuous deployment. Most estimates suggest Fujian can operate for 90 to 100 days at sea before requiring replenishment, depending on fuel and sortie tempo.

In terms of readiness, the U.S. Navy maintains a significant advantage. American carrier aviation has been honed through decades of combat operations, global exercises, and allied interoperability. Carrier Air Wings routinely integrate with NATO and Indo-Pacific forces. Fujian, by comparison, is only now entering service and has yet to perform sustained operations at sea with a full strike group, let alone conduct real-world expeditionary missions.

From a technical standpoint, Fujian represents China’s most sophisticated naval asset to date. It introduces true CATOBAR capability, a path to fifth-generation carrier aviation, and the ability to launch heavier aircraft, such as the KJ-600. However, while the ship narrows the capability gap in launch systems, air wing architecture, and future AEW integration, it does not close it. The Ford-class remains the benchmark, with broader aircraft capacity, superior propulsion, higher sortie generation rates, and full-spectrum mission capability.

The deeper contrast lies in strategic philosophy. The U.S. Navy’s carrier model is global, nuclear-powered, interoperable, and expeditionary by design. The PLAN’s model is regional, conventional, and still undergoing doctrinal maturation. China is building fast and learning quickly, but it has yet to replicate the experience and combat readiness that underpin U.S. naval aviation.

As Fujian completes its integration phase and a fourth Chinese carrier—expected to be nuclear-powered—enters construction, the Indo-Pacific naval landscape is shifting. The competition is no longer hypothetical. Fujian vs. Ford has become a real-world equation in strategic balance. For defense planners, this is the new frontline of naval airpower in the 21st century.

China vs. U.S. Carrier Air Power: Strategic Balance Beyond the Hull

The broader naval airpower comparison shows that while China is making rapid strides, the United States still holds decisive operational and doctrinal advantages. The U.S. Navy operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, each capable of fielding 70 to 90 aircraft. This fleet is supplemented by nine U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault ships, all of which can launch F-35Bs, greatly expanding America’s distributed maritime strike options.

China currently fields three aircraft carriers: Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian. The first two use ski-jump flight decks and are limited to STOVL-style launch operations. Only Fujian introduces catapult-assisted launch and arrest recovery, placing it in a different class of capability. However, even Fujian is still dependent on shore-based infrastructure, fuel logistics, and a regional support structure concentrated in East Asia.

What differentiates U.S. naval aviation most is its integration into a real-time, joint-force architecture. U.S. Carrier Air Wings operate as part of a fully networked C4ISR ecosystem, sharing data with satellites, Aegis destroyers, submarines, drones, and allied units. The PLAN is building a similar network using phased-array radars, ISR satellites, and indigenous data links, but it remains behind in combat validation, interoperability, and secure global reach.

China is closing gaps in stealth technology, AEW&C, electronic warfare, and precision strike. It is likely to have at least six carriers by the early 2030s, two of which could be nuclear-powered. Yet numbers alone do not equal power. Training, logistics, doctrine, and coalition trust remain critical. The U.S. Navy continues to dominate across all of these factors.

For now, the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian signals a new chapter in Chinese naval development. But the U.S. Ford still sets the standard.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.