China tests fujian carrier capabilities
New aircraft carrier completes live-force drill with electromagnetic catapult systems
China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian (hull number 18), has demonstrated key capabilities during recent maritime testing and a first live-force training exercise, officials say. The domestically designed carrier — launched in 2022 and now undergoing sea trials and system commissioning — is the country’s first to employ electromagnetic catapult launch systems and arresting gear, replacing the ski-jump ramps used on earlier carriers. Chinese navy personnel highlight the electromagnetic catapult’s ability to accelerate aircraft to takeoff speed over shorter distances and to accommodate a wider variety of carrier-based aircraft across differing operating conditions, improving sortie efficiency and enabling continuous launch operations.
During the live-force drill conducted in nearby waters, the Fujian’s crew tested command-and-control, flight-operations support, propulsion and integrated combat functions under realistic conditions. Officials described the exercise as routine and defensive, focused on validating performance benchmarks established in dockside and earlier sea trials. While authorities did not disclose specifics on aircraft launches or recoveries, they reported that the drills proceeded according to plan and met expectations.
Analysts view the live-force training as a significant milestone that shifts the ship’s development beyond basic trials toward more complex, combat-oriented testing. The Fujian’s flat deck and electromagnetic launch technology are intended to support heavier airframes and raise sortie rates, enhancing the carrier’s potential for sustained air operations and broader power-projection roles compared with China’s first two carriers, which are based on older designs.
Further, progressively demanding exercises and additional aviation tests are expected as the crew gains experience and the ship moves toward formal operational readiness. Observers in the region and beyond are closely monitoring the Fujian’s advancement as part of China’s wider naval modernization efforts aimed at strengthening maritime defense and expanding blue-water capabilities.
