China’s newest aircraft carrier may only be able to conduct air operations at about 60% the rate of a 50-year-old US Navy carrier, two former US carrier officers say, a substantial combat limitation for a vessel meant to revolutionize Beijing’s fleet.

China’s “carrier-killer” strategy centers on DF-21D, DF-26, and DF-17 missiles, backed by a growing kill chain of satellites, OTH radars, and drones to locate and salvo on U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups and Indo-Pacific airbases.