China’s naval ambitions have taken a significant leap forward with the development of its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian. Launched on June 17, 2022, the Fujian represents a monumental advancement in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) capabilities, marking China’s transition from a regional maritime power to a formidable blue-water navy.
The Fujian, designated as Type 003, is China’s first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier equipped with a Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) system. This system, featuring electromagnetic catapults, allows for the launch of heavier and more diverse aircraft compared to the ski-jump ramps used on China’s previous carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong .
With a displacement of approximately 80,000 to 85,000 tons, the Fujian is the largest conventionally powered aircraft carrier in the world . Its construction began in the mid-2010s, with significant milestones achieved over the years, culminating in its launch in 2022. A standout feature of the Fujian is its electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), a technology that only the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class carriers currently employ. EMALS offers several advantages over traditional steam catapults, including reduced maintenance, smoother acceleration, and the ability to launch a broader range of aircraft .
The Fujian’s EMALS enables it to deploy advanced aircraft such as the J-15T, an upgraded version of the J-15 fighter jet, and the next-generation stealth fighter jet, the J-35 . Additionally, the carrier is expected to host the KJ-600, a fixed-wing airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, and the JL-10 advanced trainer jet . Since its launch, the Fujian has undergone a series of sea trials to test its systems and capabilities. The seventh sea trial commenced in March 2025, focusing on the testing of its advanced electromagnetic catapults and arresting cables using fixed-wing fighter jets . These trials are crucial steps toward the carrier’s commissioning into active service.
During earlier trials, observers noted tire marks on the flight deck, indicating that aircraft had conducted touch-and-go operations, a preliminary step before full launch and recovery tests .The Fujian’s introduction into the PLAN significantly enhances China’s ability to project power far beyond its shores. With the capability to carry over 60 aircraft, including advanced fighters and AEW&C platforms, the carrier extends China’s reach into the Indo-Pacific region and beyond .
The deployment of the J-35 stealth fighter aboard the Fujian represents a substantial upgrade in China’s carrier-based aviation. The J-35’s stealth features and advanced avionics bring China’s capabilities closer to those of the U.S. Navy’s F-35C, challenging the existing balance of power in the region .
Furthermore, the integration of the KJ-600 AEW&C aircraft enhances the PLAN’s situational awareness and command and control capabilities, critical components for modern naval operations . Despite these advancements, China faces challenges in fully realizing the Fujian’s potential. Developing the necessary operational experience, training personnel, and integrating the carrier into the existing naval framework are complex tasks that require time and resources .
Additionally, the Fujian’s conventional propulsion limits its endurance compared to nuclear-powered carriers, necessitating more frequent refueling and potentially impacting sustained operations . China’s ambitions extend beyond the Fujian. Reports suggest that the country is developing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which would significantly enhance its ability to conduct prolonged operations without the need for refueling . The PLAN aims to have six aircraft carriers by 2035, positioning itself as the second-largest blue-water navy globally, behind only the United States .
The Fujian symbolizes China’s growing maritime capabilities and its determination to assert itself as a dominant naval power. As the carrier progresses through its trials and moves toward commissioning, it will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.
China’s leap from the ski-jump systems used on Liaoning and Shandong to the electromagnetic catapult system aboard Fujian is not just a technical upgrade — it’s a doctrinal shift. Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS), although notoriously difficult to perfect, provide several strategic benefits over steam catapults. EMALS are lighter, require less maintenance, and provide more consistent energy output. They also impose less stress on airframes, extending the service life of aircraft.
Fujian’s catapults are speculated to rival — and potentially match — the performance of the EMALS onboard the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class carriers. If proven reliable, this would place China in elite company, as no other country currently deploys operational electromagnetic launch systems at sea.
The aircraft Fujian is expected to carry will be central to its strike capabilities. The J-15T — a modified version of the original J-15 — incorporates reinforced landing gear, folding wings, and compatibility with the catapult system. Despite criticisms that the J-15 is heavy and limited in range, the T variant is designed to overcome many of these shortcomings.
More intriguing is the J-35, a stealthy, twin-engine jet intended to compete with the U.S. F-35. Although still in development, leaked photos and reports suggest the J-35 features radar-absorbent materials, internal weapons bays, and advanced avionics. The aircraft’s integration aboard Fujian will significantly boost the carrier’s first-strike potential, survivability, and situational awareness.
Meanwhile, the KJ-600 AEW&C aircraft will give Fujian the kind of airborne command and control capabilities previously exclusive to the U.S. Navy. Modeled on the American E-2D Hawkeye, the KJ-600 is a turbo-prop plane that can detect stealth aircraft and coordinate fleet defense. This capability fills a critical gap in China’s current naval aviation portfolio.
Fujian’s arrival puts China in an elite group of nations with operational aircraft carriers using CATOBAR technology. Still, it’s important to recognize the gap that remains between the PLAN and the U.S. Navy, which currently operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers with decades of experience in global power projection.
U.S. supercarriers, like the USS Gerald R. Ford, have greater endurance, thanks to nuclear propulsion, and can sustain longer missions far from home ports. Their support networks — including guided missile cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and replenishment ships — form carrier strike groups capable of integrated joint operations.
However, China is catching up fast. Its investments in destroyers (such as the Type 055 Renhai-class), nuclear submarines, and aerial drones suggest a coordinated strategy to support and protect carrier operations across blue-water theaters. Fujian is a cornerstone of this vision, intended not merely to match the U.S. in hardware but to enable China to project power across the Pacific and beyond.
Fujian’s development arrives during a period of heightened tensions in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and East China Sea — regions where maritime boundaries and sovereignty are fiercely contested. For Beijing, the carrier is both a military tool and a geopolitical symbol. Its presence signals resolve in asserting China’s maritime claims and protecting its economic lifelines.
Naval bases in Djibouti and reports of potential dual-use ports in the Indian Ocean and Africa suggest China is preparing to operate its carriers far from home waters. With increased airlift capacity, intelligence gathering capabilities, and maritime strike potential, Fujian could serve in anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategies designed to complicate the operations of foreign fleets near China’s periphery.
This has not gone unnoticed. The U.S., Japan, Australia, and India — all part of the “Quad” security dialogue — have increased joint naval drills and surveillance operations in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan’s defense ministry has also intensified investments in asymmetric warfare, expecting more pressure from an increasingly assertive PLAN.
Defense analysts around the globe have weighed in on Fujian’s significance. Dr. Oriana Skylar Mastro of Stanford University notes, “Fujian is a strategic inflection point. It’s not just that China can build big ships — it’s that they’re learning how to use them in concert with satellite communications, cyber warfare, and drone swarms.”
Similarly, Rick Joe, a defense analyst focusing on Chinese military aviation, commented, “It’s not only about capability — it’s about doctrine. The transition from the ski-jump to catapult launch indicates a massive shift in how the PLAN thinks about fleet operations, sortie generation, and survivability.”
Despite this, many stress that technology alone does not equal dominance. “Naval power projection is about integration,” explains retired U.S. Navy Captain Carl Schuster. “China has built a ship. Now it must build the systems, training, and culture to use it effectively — something that took the U.S. decades to master.”
Domestically, the Fujian plays a key role in bolstering national pride and legitimizing the Chinese Communist Party’s narrative of rejuvenation. State media has highlighted the carrier as a symbol of technological self-reliance, and its development fits neatly into President Xi Jinping’s broader goals of transforming the PLA into a “world-class military” by mid-century.
The carrier’s name itself, “Fujian,” taken from a coastal province opposite Taiwan, is not without symbolism. It reinforces Beijing’s claim over the Taiwan Strait and serves as a reminder of the unresolved status of Taiwan, which remains a potential flashpoint for conflict.
China’s ambitions do not stop with the Fujian. Analysts suggest that a fourth carrier — potentially nuclear-powered — is already under development. Satellite imagery has revealed large modules under construction at Jiangnan Shipyard, hinting at an even more formidable successor.
A nuclear-powered carrier would eliminate the need for frequent refueling, allowing the PLAN to sustain operations for extended periods and increasing its strategic flexibility. Such a vessel could mark the beginning of truly global Chinese naval operations, with the ability to deploy anywhere from the Mediterranean to the Arctic.
