China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, docks at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.
“The construction of the People’s Navy aircraft carriers has achieved a remarkable transformation from nothing to something.”
On 1 May 2024, China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, began its maiden sea trial[i] marking a pivotal stride in Chinese power projection. The Fujianis the largest and most advanced carrier in China’s fleet and will significantly enhance Beijing’s capacity to project power over greater distances and expand its ‘blue water’ capabilities.
According to the first excerpted article published by one of China’s largest internet companies NetEase, Fujian is China’s first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier featuring an electromagnetic catapult system. This key capability allows Fujian to launch heavier and larger aircraft than its predecessors, the Liaoning [RG1] and the Shandong [RG2]. With increased payload capacity and extended range, Fujian enhances the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) ‘blue-water’ capabilities.[ii] Notably, Fujian surpasses its predecessors in tonnage and technological capabilities. Its construction also underscores China’s growing expertise in domestic carrier construction and development, marking a departure from reliance on Soviet designs. After completing sea trials and officially entering service, Fujian will significantly advance the PLAN capabilities, marking the beginning of the “three carrier era,” wherein one carrier can undergo maintenance, another can maintain training readiness, and the third can undertake carrier presence operations in strategically important maritime areas.
The second excerpt, published by the Chinese Communist Party newspaper China Daily, states that the sea trials of Fujian may be considerably longer than its two predecessors. This is due to Fujian’s technology upgrades, particularly the electromagnetic catapult, the evolution from a Soviet foundation, and its ability to accommodate additional equipment and aircraft. Further, an expert cited in the article details that Fujian’s sea trials will be divided into two primary components: equipment and personnel.[iii] He states that sea trials related to equipment are based on six characteristics, reliability, maintainability, testability, supportability, environmental adaptability, and safety. The sea trials related to personnel include habitability and people’s experience of the work environment. While the recent launch of Fujian marks significant progress for China, the United States still maintains a considerable lead in aircraft carrier application, experience, and technology.[iv] The US Navy’s operational experience with carriers, dating back to World War II, provides a depth of knowledge that China cannot match. Through decades of maritime experience, the US Navy has developed a mature and highly effective doctrine for carrier combat operations, integrating them into broader joint and combined arms strategies. In contrast, the PLAN lacks this historical, practical, and combat experience.[v] Despite this, through rigorous sea trials, Fujian will not only enhance China’s technological prowess but also gain invaluable operational experience, positioning itself for greater maritime prominence in the future.
Sources:
Fu Qianshao, “超燃！我国将进入“三航母时代”！(Super Hot! My Country Enters the “3 Aircraft Carrier Era), Netease (one of China’s largest internet companies, subject to regulatory oversight and censorship by China’s Cyberspace Administration), 02 May 2024. https://m.163.com/dy/article/J16ADKLT0514R9KQ.html
On June 17, 2022, China marked the launch and naming of its third aircraft carrier, christened ‘Fujian Ship of the People’s Liberation Army Navy.’ On May 1, 2024, the carrier embarked on its inaugural sea trial. With the addition of Fujian, China now boasts three aircraft carriers, each with unique performance and combat capabilities, joining the Liaoning and Shandong in its naval fleet.
The Liaoning, originally a Soviet carrier commissioned in 1985, serves as China’s inaugural aircraft carrier, boasting a 60,000-ton displacement. Despite its origins, extensive upgrades have rendered it a crucial asset for China’s maritime and aerial operations expansion. In contrast, the Shandong represents China’s first indigenous medium-sized aircraft carrier, featuring a design, development, and construction entirely undertaken within the country. Slightly larger than the Liaoning, the Shandong features an expanded flight deck and significant advancements in internal systems, elevators, and shipboard weaponry. The latest addition, Fujian, marks a significant technological leap for China’s naval capabilities. As the country’s first carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system, Fujian boasts a load displacement exceeding 80,000 tons, surpassing its predecessors in both size and technological sophistication.
As with new surface vessels across naval fleets worldwide, Fujian will undergo rigorous sea trials before entering active service. These trials encompass two primary aspects: equipment and personnel evaluation. Equipment trials scrutinize the ship’s reliability, maintainability, testability, supportability, environmental resilience, and safety standards. Meanwhile, personnel trials assess aspects such as habitability and operational effectiveness.
With the successful completion of sea trials and Fujian’s official commissioning, it is poised to significantly advance the capabilities of the PLAN. This heralds the commencement of the ‘three carrier era,’ wherein one aircraft carrier can undergo maintenance, another can maintain training readiness, and the third can undertake crucial carrier presence operations in strategically important maritime areas.
With its adoption of cutting-edge electromagnetic catapult technology, Fujian will have a higher dispatch rate for carrier-based aircraft compared to its predecessors. Furthermore, its integration of domestically developed technologies underscores China’s commitment to indigenous innovation and self-reliance. Through rigorous sea trials, the PLAN will not only enhance its technological prowess but also gain invaluable operational experience, positioning itself for greater maritime prominence in the future.
Source: Gao Linlin, “你好，18舰！欢迎，福建舰！(Hello, Ship 18! Welcome, Fujian Ship!),” China Daily (a daily newspaper owned by the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party), 02 May 2024. https://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202405/02/WS6633074fa3109f7860ddc054.html
On 01 May 2024, China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, unmoored and set sail from the docks of Jiangnan Shipyard to conduct its inaugural sea trials. These sea trials aim to access the reliability and stability of Fujian’s power, electricity, and other essential systems. Fujian stands as a significant emblem of the navy’s evolution and the emergence of high-quality combat forces. The rapid expansion of China’s aircraft carrier force underscores a deliberate effort to enhance combat capabilities. Progressing from a single carrier to three, China has charted a distinct trajectory in the construction of its aircraft carrier force, reflecting a transformation tailored with Chinese characteristics.
Before new ships are commissioned, navies worldwide conduct sea trials to assess their performance across various metrics through actual navigation at sea. The sea trials of Fujian are divided into two primary components: equipment and personnel evaluation. Equipment trials scrutinize reliability, maintainability, testability, supportability, environmental adaptability, and safety. Concurrently, personnel trials focus on factors such as habitability and operational experience within the work environment.
Fujian marks a significant leap forward in technology and tonnage compared to its predecessors, garnering attention as the first Chinese aircraft carrier not based on a Soviet template. With its considerably larger tonnage, Fujian has increased capacity to accommodate additional equipment and aircraft. Furthermore, the incorporation of new technologies such as the electromagnetic catapult underscores its cutting-edge capabilities. Given these substantial upgrades and the absence of a Soviet foundation, the sea trials for Fujian may be longer compared to those of the two previous carriers.With the official commissioning of Fujian, the navy will transition into a ‘three carrier era,’ facilitating a rotation system where one carrier can undergo repairs, another can maintain training readiness, and the third can engage in combat training. This strategic deployment enables the PLAN to always ensure the presence of an aircraft carrier in strategically important sea areas. Furthermore, equipped with an electromagnetic catapult, Fujian is poised to play a pivotal role in executing key tasks within critical maritime domains.
Notes:
[i] To watch the full CCTV-7 video report of Fujian’s unmooring, see CCTV’s video post, CCTV, 02 May 2024.
[ii] Brandon Lendon, “China’s newest aircraft carrier heads to sea for first time,” CNN, 01 May 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/01/china/china-navy-newest-aircraft-carrier-fujian-sea-trial-intl-hnk-ml/index.html
[iii] CCTV-13 features a special military commentator, a former PLAN officer commissioned from Dalian Academy, to provide insights into Fujian’s sea trials, CCTV-13 News Channel, 09 May 2204. https://tv.cctv.com/2024/05/09/VIDEYJxMXBbSzJFnn5zSoBNr240509.shtml
[iv] Greg Torode, Eduardo Baptista, Tim Kelly, “China’s aircraft carriers play ‘theatrical’ role but pose little threat yet” Reuters. 05 May 2023. https://www.reuters.com/world/chinas-aircraft-carriers-play-theatrical-role-pose-little-threat-yet-2023-05-05/
[v] Benjamin Brimelow, “US vs. Chinese aircraft carriers: How the world’s top flattops stack up,” Business Insider,01 June 2024. https://www.businessinsider.com/us-vs-chinese-navy-aircraft-carriers-2024-5
Image Information:
Image: China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, docks at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.
Source: https://english.news.cn/20240501/72b54c6bb8f34058a011c44971de3c0e/c.html
Attribution: CCA-SA 4.0 Intl.