China is building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

It has been rumored for a long time that China is planning to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. This time the country has added a new dimension to this discussion. They went one step further towards building warships.

Beijing has reportedly built a prototype nuclear reactor for use in an aircraft carrier, seeking to exert influence in global waters.

China is working on a nuclear-powered propulsion system for a giant warship—satellite images from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California and government documents have confirmed.

Middlebury researchers searched a mountain area outside the city of Leshan in southwest China's Sichuan province, suspecting that China is building reactors to produce plutonium or tritium for nuclear weapons.

Analyzing satellite images, project tenders, personnel documents and environmental impacts, they said China is developing a prototype ground-based reactor for warships.

The reactor is housed in a protected area called 'Base 909' under the China Atomic Energy Institute.

Nuclear powered aircraft carriers take longer to build than conventional aircraft carriers. But these warships can stay at sea for a long time. With more space for fuel and weapons, these warships can carry more warplanes than conventional warships. In addition, these warships are able to generate more electricity by operating powerful technology.

China has the world's largest navy in terms of number of warships. They have three aircraft carriers.

Although China's military has not said it directly, experts say Chinese shipyards have the capability to simultaneously build multiple carriers and build a nuclear-powered warship at the same time.

The United States currently has the largest number of nuclear powered aircraft carriers. The country has a total of 11 nuclear warships. However, the Pentagon is concerned about the increasing modernization of China's navy.

Source: Associated Press (AP)

Translation: Mahadi Ahmed