China has officially commissioned its third aircraft carrier, named Fujian, marking a significant advancement in its naval capabilities. This event was attended by Chinese leader Xi Jinping and reported by state news agency Xinhua. Currently, China ranks second globally in the number of aircraft carriers, with three, but remains behind the US Navy, which operates 11.
Fujian is notable for being China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult launch system, allowing it to launch heavier and fully loaded fighter aircraft, including those used for early warning. This capability enhances the Chinese Navy’s operational range in the Pacific, particularly in contested areas such as the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and South China Sea. The earlier carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, utilized upwardly sloping ski jumps, limiting their launch capabilities.
Compared to US carriers, Fujian has advantages in launch technology but lacks nuclear power, which limits its operational range to an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 nautical miles. In contrast, US nuclear-powered carriers operate with virtually unlimited range. While Fujian can carry between 40 to 60 aircraft, US carriers can accommodate 60 to 70. Additionally, Fujian’s fully loaded displacement is over 80,000 tons, smaller than the US Nimitz and Ford-class carriers, which weigh around 100,000 tons. Fujian’s features include two aircraft elevators and three catapults, compared to the USS Ford’s three elevators and four catapults, impacting launch speed.
China is reportedly working on developing nuclear-powered carriers for future advances.
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