It was discovered by a U.S. university during imagery analysis.

China has built a land-based prototype of a nuclear reactor designed to power a large warship – possibly aircraft carrier, according to a new analysis conducted by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California on the basis of satellite imagery.

The findings, shared with the Associated Press, are the first concrete evidence that China is developing nuclear propulsion for a carrier-sized warship.

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China has three aircraft carriers, including the Type 003 Fujian, its first domestically designed and built carrier. A fourth carrier is under construction, but China has not yet confirmed whether it will be nuclear-powered.

Unlike conventional carriers, nuclear-powered carriers can stay at sea much longer since they don’t need to refuel. This allows them to carry more fuel and weapons for aircraft and generate more power for advanced systems.

Currently, only the United States and France operate nuclear-powered carriers. The U.S. has 11, enabling it to maintain multiple strike groups worldwide, including in the Indo-Pacific, while France has one, “Charles de Gaulle”, which is expected to be replaced around 2038.

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China, on the other hand, already has the world's largest navy by number of ships and is rapidly modernizing its fleet. Adding nuclear-powered carriers would strengthen its ability to operate across the globe, increasing its strategic challenge to the United States.

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