The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) China launched its third aircraft carrier, named Fujian, on June 17 at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Changxing Island Shipyard, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported on the same day.
The 80,000+ ton carrier, also locally known as the Type 003, will be an important new capability for the rapidly expanding PLAN as it will be the service’s first to feature a catapult-assisted takeoff but grounded recovery (CATOBAR). ) capable vessel and equipped with electromagnetic catapult and interceptor system technology, an advanced system currently found only on the new nuclear-powered USS of the U.S. Navy Gerald FordHowever, unlike its U.S. counterparts, this Chinese carrier will be conventionally powered.
its first two operators, Liaoning and ShandongThe aircraft, which entered service in September 2012 and December 2019, were in stark contrast to ski jumps and were configured for short takeoff but stop recovery (STOBAR) operations. The earlier two carriers were also smaller, weighing 20,000 tons less, which meant less aircraft capacity and range. Ski jumps also place considerable restrictions on the takeoff weight and payload of the aircraft being launched.
Official pictures released by Xinhua show that shelters have been built along the route Fujian’s flight deck, which shows that the electromagnetic catapult is still being installed.
According to local media reports, the carrier is expected to support an improved and electronic warfare variant of the Shenyang J-15 multirole fighter jet, as well as two new aircraft currently in advanced development stages: a turboprop-powered airborne early warning known as the KJ-600 and command aircraft, as well as a twin-engine stealth multirole fighter understood to be the J-35.
Fujian It also features an advanced deck coating developed by state-owned defense premier China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The company announced on June 22 that its 703 Research Institute — also known as the Aerospace Materials and Processing Technology Research Institute (ARIMPT) — has provided the carrier’s jet blast deflectors as well as non-slip coatings for its flight decks.
The carrier is named after the southeastern province closest to Taiwan, an autonomous island that Beijing has said must be reunited with the mainland even by force. It will now undergo further yard testing and equipment assembly before starting a series of trials, a process that could take about two years to become operational.
by Jr Ng
