China's Fujian carrier enters service, signaling a new naval edge

The Fujian, Type 003, is designed to launch three different types of aircraft using a powerful electromagnetic catapult and a flat flight deck. This domestically-built vessel can carry planes with heavier weapons and larger fuel loads, enabling strikes from greater distances and enhancing overall range and endurance. State media describe the carrier as a major milestone in the modernization of China’s navy, suggesting it places the PLA Navy closer to parity with, or even surpassing, earlier carriers in terms of capability. The Fujian’s launch places it at the center of a global naval tech race, with the United States remaining the only other country to operate an aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult. The new ship underscores a shift toward higher-capacity, more versatile carriers in China’s ongoing effort to project power at sea. The commissioning ceremony took place in southern Hainan province, where President Xi Jinping toured the deck to hear performance details and oversee demonstrations. State media claimed Xi personally made the decision to adopt electromagnetic catapult technology, framing the move as a decisive step in national defense modernization. Sailors lined the deck and dock, saluting as they shouted pledges to follow the party’s command, fight to win, and uphold discipline as the ceremony concluded.

Cover image source: China's third aircraft carrier Fujian enters service 🔗

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