China has embarked on constructing its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, marking a transformative leap in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) capabilities. Satellite imagery and leaked photographs from 2025 reveal intensive construction activity at the Dalian Shipyard, where large hull sections and reactor-related modules have been identified. These distinctive features set the Type 004 apart from China’s three conventionally powered carriers Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian signaling a fundamental shift in naval propulsion strategy. The development builds upon earlier disclosures from