China China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)
Type 003 Fujian
China's third aircraft carrier and first domestically designed flat-top with catapult-assisted launch, using electromagnetic catapults (CATOBAR) similar in concept to the U.S. Navy's Gerald R. Ford class. It represents a major leap over the ski-jump Liaoning and Shandong carriers.
In service since 2022 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
80,000
t
30
kn
3,600
crew
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2022. Status: active · ~1 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Type 003 Fujian can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | Close-in weapon systems and short-range air-defense missiles |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 316 m |
|---|
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | Type 346B AESA radar |
|---|---|
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | integrated mast sensor suite |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 1 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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Type 003 Fujian vs
Gerald R. Ford-class Aircraft Carrier Frequently asked questions
What is the main armament of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 003 Fujian? +
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 003 Fujian's primary weapon is the Close-in weapon systems and short-range air-defense missiles.
What is the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 003 Fujian used for? +
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 003 Fujian is a warship typically used for air superiority, deep strike.
How many countries operate the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 003 Fujian? +
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 003 Fujian is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 003 Fujian cost? +
China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 003 Fujian: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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