China appears to have built a new and unusual aircraft carrier, intriguing experts with a potentially first-of-its-kind vessel that could add to Beijing’s rapidly expanding maritime power.

Satellite images from Planet Labs reveal a ship under construction at Guangzhou Shipyard International, located on Longxue Island in Guangdong Province. The vessel features a flat, open upper deck and a significantly smaller frame than China’s existing aircraft carriers.

Experts think China is building a world first brand new aircraft carrier as the nation attempts to match US technology