China Officially Operates Fujian Carrier: Transport Fighter Jets To Early Warning Aircraft

The launch of China's Fujian Carrier (18). (Xinhua/Li Gang)

JAKARTA - Fujian's aircraft carrier with hull number 18 was officially operated by the Chinese Navy (PLAN) on Wednesday, with the ability to carry fighter jets to early warning aircraft equipped with an electromagnetic catapult.

The inauguration, which was marked by the raising of the ship's flag, was attended by President Xi Jinping at a ceremony at Naval Base in Sanya, Hainan Province.

At the ceremony, President Xi handed over the Chinese People's Liberation Army flag to the captain and political commissioner of Fujian's aircraft carrier.

Speaking to Aircraft pilots based on Fujian Aircraft Carrier President Xi encouraged them to continue to improve skills and expertise, as well as contribute to the development of the ship's combat capabilities, reported by Xinhua on November 7, reported by Xinhua on November 7.

The Fujian aircraft carrier is known to be capable of carrying J-35 and J-15T fighter jets, to the KongJing-600 early warning aircraft.

Fujian became the third aircraft carrier and became the most sophisticated owned by the Bamboo Curtain Country, quoted from the BBC.

Having the ability to launch three types of aircraft in contrast to their electromagnetic catapults and data decks, Fujian is capable of carrying aircraft with heavier weapons and fuel loads, so they can strike enemy targets from further distance, outperforming the previous two Chinese aircraft carriers, Lianoning (16) and Shandong (17).

By comparison, the United States is the only other country in the world that has an aircraft carrier with an electromagnetic catapult system.

Quoted from Naval News, the first module for this new ship appeared at the Jiangnan maker's factory in early 2018, before it was launched at the shipyard on June 17, 2022.

The first sea trials took place on May 1, 2024. Since then, the largest ship in the Chinese Navy has undergone eight more sea trials, culminating in its arrival in Sanya in September this year.

The new ship is also China's first supercarrier, an informal designation for aircraft carriers weighing over 80,000 tons.