Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier, the first with cutting-edge technology

China has officially put its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, into active service—marking a major milestone as the country’s first fully domestically designed and built carrier.

Outfitted with cutting-edge electromagnetic catapults, the Fujian can launch next-generation aircraft like the stealthy J-35 fighter and the KJ-600 early warning plane, significantly boosting its combat capabilities.

Electromagnetic launch system: a game-changer

The carrier’s launch system, known as EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System), allows planes to take off with heavier payloads of weapons and fuel, enabling longer-range missions—an essential capability for China’s expanding military ambitions. Until now, EMALS technology was exclusive to the U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford, which began certified flight deck operations using EMALS in spring 2022.

Conventional power, strategic limitations

Unlike its American counterpart, the Fujian runs on conventional fuel, meaning it must dock or rendezvous with a refueling ship at sea to stay operational. Despite this limitation, China’s shipyards are churning out new vessels at a pace that far exceeds U.S. production. According to CNN, the Chinese Navy now surpasses the U.S. Navy in sheer size.

Expanding Reach Beyond Coastal Waters

Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says the Fujian could play a pivotal role in extending China’s naval footprint beyond its immediate coastline. He notes that China aims to operate near the First Island Chain and deeper into the Pacific—regions that include key U.S. military bases like Guam.

Launched in June 2022 and named after China’s southeastern Fujian province, the carrier is now fully operational. China is already working on its next carrier, tentatively called Type 004, which is expected to feature EMALS and nuclear propulsion—bringing it even closer to U.S. Navy standards.

Size matters: Fujian vs. Nimitz-Class

While China’s earlier carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, displace between 66,000 and 77,000 tons and use ski-jump launch systems that limit aircraft payloads, the Fujian boasts a displacement of 88,000 tons. That puts it in the same league as America’s Nimitz-class carriers, which weigh in at around 97,000 tons and make up 10 of the U.S. Navy’s 11 active carriers.

Military analysts from both China and the U.S. have noted that the Fujian’s landing area is offset just 6 degrees from center—less than on Nimitz-class carriers. While this design conserves deck space, it could increase the risk of aircraft collisions during movement between elevators and the hangar deck. Experts warn that to mitigate this, China may need to slow down flight deck operations.

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