The People’s Liberation Army Navy has achieved a major breakthrough with its Fujian aircraft carrier: launching stealth fighter jets and other military aircraft using an electromagnetic catapult.
China’s first domestically built carrier with catapult capabilities, Fujian demonstrated that its electromagnetic launch and recovery system is compatible with multiple aerial assets, such as the J-15T and J-35 jets, as well as the KJ-600 early warning and command plane.
Unlike the country’s other carriers — the CNS Liaoning and CNS Shanding — which use ski-jump deck, Fujian has a flat flight deck and a full-load displacement exceeding 80,000 tonnes (176 million pounds).
This allows the vessel to employ electromagnetic catapults, enabling fixed-wing aircraft to launch with full fuel and payload, a capability not possible on ski-jump carriers.
“The success will provide vital support for conducting far-sea combat operations and accelerating the navy’s strategic transition from near-sea defense to far-sea protection,” said Han Wei, an official from the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, as quoted by state-run Xinhua News Agency.
Striking and Defending
The J-35 is a fifth-generation fighter that can take off quickly in full stealth configuration, acting as a “concealed dagger.”
Meanwhile, the J-15T delivers heavy-load strikes, capable of engaging both land and naval targets at full payload.
As China’s first carrier-based fixed-wing early warning aircraft, the KJ-600 also helps extend the Fujian’s detection range and enhances command and control across the carrier group.
With this aircraft lineup completing successful launches and recoveries, Fujian now combines stealth penetration and full-payload strike capabilities.
Further testing is planned, as the aircraft carrier prepares to join China’s carrier fleet alongside the Liaoning and Shanding.
