China Commissions Advanced Aircraft Carrier Fujian, Bolstering Naval Power

Historic Commissioning Ceremony

On November 5, 2025, China officially commissioned its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian (Hull 18), into the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The ceremony, held at the Yulin Naval Base in Sanya, Hainan, was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who inspected the vessel and presented a military flag. This event marks a significant milestone in China's ongoing efforts to modernize and expand its naval capabilities.

Technological Leap with EMALS

The Fujian, a Type 003 class conventionally powered aircraft carrier, represents a substantial technological leap for China's navy. It is the first Chinese carrier to feature a Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) system, specifically employing an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). This advanced system replaces the 'ski-jump' ramps used on China's previous carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, allowing for the launch of heavier aircraft with full fuel and ammunition loads. The Fujian's EMALS utilizes medium-voltage direct current and has demonstrated a reported failure rate below 0.2%, which some analyses suggest is more reliable than the alternating current system on the U.S. Gerald R. Ford-class carriers.

Enhanced Air Wing and Operational Reach

With a full-load displacement of approximately 80,000 to 85,000 tons, the Fujian is the third-largest class of aircraft carrier globally, trailing only the U.S. Navy's Nimitz and Ford classes. Its air wing is estimated to comprise at least 40 fixed-wing aircraft and 12 helicopters. The EMALS enables the launch of a diverse range of advanced aircraft, including:

• J-15T multirole fighters
• J-15DT electronic-warfare aircraft
• J-35 stealth fighters (fifth-generation)
• KJ-600 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft

Notably, the Fujian conducted the world's first operational electromagnetic catapult launch of a fifth-generation stealth aircraft, the J-35, in September 2025 during its sea trials. This capability significantly increases the carrier's combat radius and sortie generation rate, allowing for independent reconnaissance and full-deck operations far from land-based support.

Strategic Implications for the Western Pacific

The commissioning of the Fujian ushers China into a 'three-carrier era,' underscoring its ambition to develop a 'blue water' navy capable of projecting power globally. Named after Fujian province, which lies directly opposite Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, the carrier's deployment is seen by many as a clear signal of China's growing military influence in the Western Pacific. Analysts suggest it enhances China's ability to assert regional dominance and could challenge the naval presence of the Japan-U.S. alliance. The vessel began its sea trials in May 2024 and notably passed through the Taiwan Strait during these tests, further highlighting its strategic importance.