China commissions the Fujian, its first aircraft carrier designed entirely in-house and equipped with electromagnetic catapults: a strategic turning point in the Pacific.
Summary
The Fujian aircraft carrier (Type 003) marks a major advance for the Chinese navy. For the first time, Beijing is deploying a ship entirely designed and built in China, equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) comparable to that of the US Navy. With an estimated displacement of over 80,000 tons, a length of approximately 316 meters, and a full CATOBAR flight deck, this ship strengthens the projection capability of Chinese naval fighters such as the Shenyang J-15 and, soon, the stealth Shenyang J-35. This increase in power significantly alters the military balance in the Pacific: it strengthens the reach of Chinese carrier groups and poses new challenges for US and allied forces. However, a period of integration and testing will still be necessary before full operational readiness.
The ship and its technical characteristics
The Fujian is the third aircraft carrier of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), after the Liaoning (Type 001) and the Shandong (Type 002). It is the first to be built entirely in China and not derived from an old Soviet platform.
According to the most reliable data, it is approximately 316 meters long and approximately 76 meters wide (flight deck) with an estimated full load displacement of between 80,000 and 85,000 tons.
The ship has a straight flight deck, three electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) and an arresting-wires system for recovering aircraft, which is a major technological leap forward compared to previous Chinese aircraft carriers that used a ski jump.
The propulsion system remains conventional (steam turbines or non-nuclear system), which imposes limitations on endurance compared to American nuclear aircraft carriers.
In terms of aircraft, the Fujian could carry between 50 and 60 aircraft according to estimates, including J-15 or J-35 fighters, Xian KJ-600 surveillance aircraft, and anti-submarine helicopters.
This combination of surface area, propulsion, flight deck, and aircraft carried makes the Fujian one of the largest civilian aircraft carriers outside the United States.
The innovation of electromagnetic catapults and their implications
The real technological breakthrough of the Fujian lies in the adoption of an electromagnetic launch system (EMALS). Until now, only US Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers had this electric catapult technology.
EMALS allows heavier aircraft to be launched, with more fuel or weapons, and reduces the structural fatigue caused by steam catapults. This opens the door to the use of more modern naval aircraft and increased cargo capacity.
The Fujian is declared to be “CATOBAR-capable” rather than the previous “STOBAR” (ski-jump). The difference is significant: an aircraft launched by catapult can take off with a higher payload, improving range and efficiency. Chinese media have broadcast images of successful launches of a J-15T and a KJ-600 via catapult from the Fujian.
The emergence of this technology allows China to reach a new tactical level: the ship can accommodate larger, heavier, and more powerful aircraft, thereby increasing its value as a strategic projection platform.
Strengthening China’s naval projection capabilities
With the commissioning of the Fujian, China officially moves to a fleet of three operational aircraft carriers, increasing its deployment capacity and geographical coverage.
This increase in power is significant in the context of China’s strategy in the Pacific and Indian Oceans: the ship can support more credible carrier strike groups for operations on the high seas, beyond the First Island Chain.
In practice, this means that China can now project longer-range naval fighters, cover a larger maritime area, and deter or monitor strategic areas, particularly around Taiwan, in the South China Sea, and in the Indian Ocean. The Fujian, equipped with a CATOBAR deck, can launch more effective strike, surveillance, and support missions.
In terms of carrier-based aviation, the future arrival of the stealth J-35 reinforces the strategic effect. The fact that the Fujian already accepts aircraft such as the KJ-600 (surveillance and control) signals the increased maturity of the Chinese carrier group.
The message is twofold: on the one hand, China is demonstrating that it can design and build large autonomous aircraft carriers; on the other hand, it is asserting its ability to rival the major Western navies in the projection of maritime power.
Persistent challenges and operational limitations
Despite this technical progress, several obstacles remain before the Fujian is fully operational. First, the testing and training period is expected to be lengthy. The ship is not immediately usable at full capacity, according to analysts, who estimate that it will take several months to a year to reach the stage of a fully integrated aircraft carrier group.
Conventional propulsion, rather than a nuclear engine, limits its range and the number of days it can remain at sea without refueling. American nuclear aircraft carriers have an advantage in terms of endurance and continuous operation.
Another challenge concerns the training of shipboard pilots, the practical implementation of electromagnetic catapulting with a sufficient number of aircraft and missions, and the logistics of a naval force of this size (refueling, support, naval aircraft). The integration of the fleet, submarine refueling, escort destroyers, and support systems remains a long-term undertaking.
Finally, China must prove the reliability of this system and demonstrate regular operations on the high seas with the Fujian. Until these capabilities are publicly demonstrated, potential adversaries (“the US or allied powers”) may consider it more of a symbol than a fully valid asset.
Strategic consequences for the balance of power in the Pacific
The commissioning of the Fujian changes the military balance in the Asia-Pacific region. For the United States and its allies, each additional Chinese aircraft carrier reduces their room for maneuver in the region. A Chinese navy capable of supporting three carrier strike groups weakens US supremacy in certain areas.
In particular, in a crisis scenario involving Taiwan or the South China Sea, the Fujian increases China’s range of intervention, its ability to maintain a persistent presence, and its capacity to exercise a form of maritime deterrence.
Furthermore, this technological advance—delivering an entirely domestic CATOBAR ship—reinforces China’s message of industrial sovereignty. This would reduce dependence on foreign technologies and increase the strategic autonomy of the Chinese navy.
For regional navies (Japan, Australia, India), this requires a reconsideration of how they monitor and respond to Chinese aircraft carrier groups, including in areas traditionally “under American influence.”
Finally, it also paves the way for new alliances or international sales. The development of this naval capability signals to third countries that China is no longer just a continental power but also a leading maritime force.
The Chinese shipbuilding industry and its future ambitions
The Fujian is also a milestone for Chinese industry. It shows that the Jiangnan Shipyard and the China State Shipbuilding Corporation can design and build a modern aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, which until now has been the preserve of a few countries.
In the longer term, China is already working on a future Type 004 class aircraft carrier, which could be nuclear-powered and exceed 100,000 tons. The success of the Fujian is therefore a step towards this ambition.
In terms of exports, although China does not yet have a large export market for aircraft carriers, this technical success strengthens its credibility in the naval sector and could influence future international contracts.
At the industrial level, the transition to CATOBAR systems, electromagnetic catapults, integrated propulsion systems, and naval aircraft control systems requires a high level of expertise and a robust supply chain. The Fujian is a full-scale test bed for these skills.
A new era for the Chinese navy and maritime affairs
The commissioning of the Fujian heralds a new era for the Chinese navy. No longer focused solely on coastal defense or the “first island chain” architecture, it now aspires to be a blue-water force, capable of operations in the Indian Ocean and beyond.
This raises questions about how China intends to use these capabilities—deterrence, projection, influence, or maritime “gray zone.” The ship can become a diplomatic tool as much as a combat tool.
For observers, the key will be to see how quickly the Fujian becomes operational: what aircraft will be deployed, how often it will be used on missions, what escort support it will have, and, of course, how it will interact with other elements of the Chinese navy.
The aircraft carrier remains one of the ultimate symbols of naval power. By combining domestic design, CATOBAR technology, and oceanic ambition, China is showing that it wants to play a leading role in the competition for the Indo-Pacific maritime space. The road ahead is still long, but the course is now clearly set.
Sources
- “China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, enters service.” Reuters, Nov. 7, 2025.
- “China’s latest aircraft carrier enters service to extend reach into high seas.” The Guardian, Nov. 7, 2025.
- “Analysis: what we know about the Fujian, China’s new aircraft carrier.” Naval-Technology, 2024.
- ChinaPower Project, “How Advanced Is China’s Third Aircraft Carrier?”
- Naval-Encyclopedia.com, “Type 003 Fujian – China’s first indigenous CATOBAR carrier.”
- MarineInsight.com, “China’s Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier Nears Commissioning After Intensive Sea Trial.”
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