China has officially commissioned its third aircraft carrier, Fujian, marking a major milestone in its naval expansion. The commissioning ceremony, attended by President Xi Jinping, positions China as the world’s second-largest operator of aircraft carriers, behind the United States.
The Fujian stands out as China’s first domestically designed and most advanced carrier. It features an electromagnetic catapult launch system, enabling the launch of heavier aircraft such as the KJ-600 early warning plane and J-35 stealth fighter. This technology, used only by the US Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford, increases launch efficiency and allows for greater operational range.
Unlike its predecessors Liaoning and Shandong, which rely on ski-jump decks, the Fujian can project power deeper into the Pacific and South China Sea. With a displacement exceeding 80,000 tons, it can carry up to 60 aircraft, though slightly fewer than the US Navy’s 100,000-ton carriers.
However, Fujian is not nuclear-powered, limiting its range to about 10,000 nautical miles. China is reportedly developing nuclear propulsion for future carriers, aiming to match the United States’ global reach.
This launch underscores China’s growing ambition to rival American naval dominance in key maritime regions.
