Skip to main content
  • Sections
  • Search

Center for Strategic & International Studies

User menu

  • Subscribe
  • Sign In

Topics

  • Climate Change
  • Cybersecurity and Technology
    • Cybersecurity
    • Data Governance
    • Intellectual Property
    • Intelligence, Surveillance, and Privacy
    • Military Technology
    • Space
    • Technology and Innovation
  • Defense and Security
    • Counterterrorism and Homeland Security
    • Defense Budget
    • Defense Industry, Acquisition, and Innovation
    • Defense Strategy and Capabilities
    • Geopolitics and International Security
    • Long-Term Futures
    • Missile Defense
    • Space
    • Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation
  • Economics
    • Asian Economics
    • Global Economic Governance
    • Trade and International Business
  • Energy and Sustainability
    • Energy, Climate Change, and Environmental Impacts
    • Energy and Geopolitics
    • Energy Innovation
    • Energy Markets, Trends, and Outlooks
  • Global Health
    • Family Planning, Maternal and Child Health, and Immunizations
    • Multilateral Institutions
    • Health and Security
    • Infectious Disease
  • Human Rights
    • Building Sustainable and Inclusive Democracy
    • Business and Human Rights
    • Responding to Egregious Human Rights Abuses
    • Civil Society
    • Transitional Justice
    • Human Security
  • International Development
    • Food and Agriculture
    • Governance and Rule of Law
    • Humanitarian Assistance
    • Human Mobility
    • Private Sector Development
    • U.S. Development Policy

Regions

  • Africa
    • North Africa
    • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Americas
    • Caribbean
    • North America
    • South America
  • Arctic
  • Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Australia, New Zealand & Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • Pakistan
    • Southeast Asia
  • Europe
    • European Union
    • NATO
    • Post-Soviet Europe
    • Turkey
  • Middle East
    • The Gulf
    • Egypt and the Levant
    • North Africa
  • Russia and Eurasia
    • The South Caucasus
    • Central Asia
    • Post-Soviet Europe
    • Russia

Sections menu

  • Programs
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Analysis
    • Blogs
    • Books
    • Commentary
    • Congressional Testimony
    • Critical Questions
    • Interactive Reports
    • Journals
    • Newsletter
    • Reports
    • Transcript
  • Podcasts
  • iDeas Lab
  • Transcripts
  • Web Projects

Main menu

  • About Us
  • Support CSIS
    • Securing Our Future
Photo: Planet Labs
Commentary
Share
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Printfriendly.com

China Readies to Launch Its Newest, Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier

June 15, 2022

Satellite imagery from June 14 reveals that the launch of China’s third aircraft carrier, the Type 003, is imminent. The dry dock where the carrier is positioned is now flooded and the vessel’s flight deck has been cleared—two telltale signs that CSIS previously flagged as part of the pre-launch checklist. Additionally, the blast deflectors for the catapults are raised and the elevators are in the up position.


Click to expand.

China often celebrates the launch of major surface combatants with a fair amount of pageantry, and the impending launch of the Type 003 is no exception. Workers have strung pennant flags between the island and the deck of the ship, which was also the case with China’s first two carriers at launch. Red banners or placards with Chinese characters on them have also been placed over the environmental shelters that cover the carrier’s catapults.

Once launched, work will begin on fitting out China’s newest warship. Space has been cleared at a nearby pier just to the southeast of the drydock, a possible sign of where the Type 003 may be moored once it is launched.

Matthew P. Funaiole is director of the iDeas Lab and senior fellow with the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. is a senior fellow for imagery analysis (non-resident) with the CSIS iDeas Lab and Korea Chair. Brian Hart is a fellow with the CSIS China Power Project.

Commentary is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).

© 2022 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. All rights reserved.

Written By
Matthew P. Funaiole
Vice President, iDeas Lab, Andreas C. Dracopoulos Chair in Innovation and Senior Fellow, China Power Project
  • LinkedIn
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.
Senior Fellow for Imagery Analysis, iDeas Lab and Korea Chair
  • Twitter
Brian Hart
Fellow, China Power Project
Media Queries
Contact H. Andrew Schwartz
Chief Communications Officer
Tel: 202.775.3242

Contact Paige Montfort
Media Relations Coordinator, External Relations
Tel: 202.775.3173
Related
Asia, China, China Power Project, Commentaries, Critical Questions, and Newsletters, Defense and Security, Geopolitics and International Security, High Resolution, Satellite Imagery, Special Initiatives

Most Recent From Matthew P. Funaiole

In the News
The last time there was a Taiwan crisis, China’s low-tech military was badly outmatched by U.S. forces. Not now.
NBC News | Dan De Luce
August 5, 2022
In the News
Sea Control 364 - How Foreign Companies are Subsidizing China's Navy
Sea Control | Jared Samuelson and Marie Williams
July 22, 2022
In the News
After Biden's pivot to Asia, China feels the chill
Politico | Yun Sun
June 23, 2022
In the News
China launches third, most advanced aircraft carrier named ‘Fujian’
CNN | Nectar Gan and Brad Lendon
June 17, 2022
In the News
China launched the world's first AI-operated 'mother ship,' an unmanned carrier capable of launching dozens of drones
Business Insider | Alia Shoaib
June 11, 2022
In the News
Former U.S. Officials Offer A Look Inside China's Intel Community
Newsy | By Sasha Ingber
June 8, 2022
In the News
Today's D Brief: Putin's Ukraine invasion, day 100; Biden's gun violence plea; China's new carrier; IS-KP's growing ambitions; And a bit more.
Defense One | Ben Watson
June 3, 2022
In the News
China Nears Launch of Advanced Aircraft Carrier, Satellite Images Show
Wall Street Journal | Gordon Lubold and Warren P. Strobel
June 2, 2022
View all content by this expert
Footer menu
  • Topics
  • Regions
  • Programs
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Analysis
  • Web Projects
  • Podcasts
  • iDeas Lab
  • Transcripts
  • About Us
  • Support Us
Contact CSIS
Email CSIS
Tel: 202.887.0200
Fax: 202.775.3199
Visit CSIS Headquarters
1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Media Queries
Contact H. Andrew Schwartz
Chief Communications Officer
Tel: 202.775.3242

Contact Paige Montfort
Media Relations Coordinator, External Relations
Tel: 202.775.3173

Daily Updates

Sign up to receive The Evening, a daily brief on the news, events, and people shaping the world of international affairs.

Subscribe to CSIS Newsletters

Follow CSIS
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

All content © 2022. All rights reserved.

Legal menu
  • Credits
  • Privacy Policy
  • Reprint Permissions