Key Points and Summary – China’s Type 003 Fujian is the PLAN’s first indigenous CATOBAR carrier and a major leap beyond Liaoning and Shandong.
-Displacing roughly 80–85,000 tons and fitted with three EMALS catapults, Fujian can launch heavier jets such as the J-35 and KJ-600 AEW, expanding reach, sensing and strike.
-Commissioned November 5, 2025, it narrows—but doesn’t erase—the gap with U.S. Ford-class supercarriers, which retain nuclear endurance, greater power generation and higher sortie rates.
-Fujian signals a real shift in Indo-Pacific power projection and serves as a stepping stone to a nuclear Type 004, accelerating China’s push toward true blue-water operations later this decade.
Fujian Arrives: China’s New Supercarrier Just Changed the Indo-Pacific
The Type 003 Fujian is China’s third and most recent aircraft carrier and is the first of the new Fujian-class carriers.
It is also China’s first domestically produced carriers, unlike the first two which were either imported, or copied from the Soviet Union.
The Type 003 is a radical departure from its older counterparts and shares more in common with American carriers in terms of its size and design.
This new platform incorporates electromagnetic catapults and is fully compatible with China’s most advanced naval aviation like the J-35.
The Type 003 Fujian is a significant improvement over China’s previous carriers and is a significant threat to the U.S. and its allies in the South China Sea.
A Brief History of China’s Carrier Program
China’s carrier program began with the Liaoning (Type 001) and Shandong (Type 002), both using ski-jump STOBAR configurations that limited aircraft weight and sortie rates.
The Liaoning originally began as a Soviet Kuznetsov-class carrier under the names Riga and Varyag.
After the fall of the USSR, the Varyag ended up in the hands of the newly independent Ukraine, who stripped it for parts and sold the hull to China. The ship was then rebuilt by the PLAN and renamed the Type 001 Liaoning.
The Type 002 Shangong (or Type 001A) shares a similar design to the Type 001, but with better electronics and sensors. It was laid down in 2013 and accepted into service in 2017.
By the early 2010s, Chinese naval planners recognized these limitations and initiated plans for a CATOBAR carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults.
Research into EMALS began around 2012, and by 2013, senior officials confirmed that the next-generation carrier would adopt this technology.
Design work for a larger hull exceeding 80,000 tons commenced soon after, and construction began at Jiangnan Shipyard around 2015.
By mid-2020, major hull modules were assembled, and the island structure was completed in 2021.
On June 17, 2022, the carrier was launched and christened Fujian, hull number 18.
Design and Specifications
In terms of design and specs, the Fujian has a lot in common with its American counterparts.
It displaces approximately 80,000 to 85,000 tons at full load, measures about 316 meters in length, and has a flight deck beam of roughly 76 meters.
Unlike U.S. supercarriers, Fujian is conventionally powered, relying on advanced steam turbines and integrated electric propulsion systems.
This configuration provides an estimated 150 to 200 megawatts of electrical capacity which is sufficient for its electromagnetic catapults but far below the 700 megawatts generated by the nuclear reactors aboard U.S. Ford-class carriers.
The flight deck is configured for CATOBAR operations and features three electromagnetic catapults powered by a medium-voltage direct current system, which Chinese engineers claim offers greater reliability than the alternating-current system used on the Ford-class.
Fujian is only the second carrier in the world to deploy EMALS, enabling precise launch control and supporting heavier, more diverse aircraft.
This technology dramatically improves sortie generation and operational flexibility compared to the ski-jump systems of previous Chinese carriers.
Air Wing and Development Timeline
The air wing is expected to include 40 to 60 aircraft, with some estimates suggesting up to 70.
These will likely comprise the J-15T carrier fighter, the stealthy J-35 fifth-generation aircraft, the KJ-600 airborne early warning platform, and helicopters such as the Z-18 and Z-20.
Defensive systems are believed to include the Type 1130 close-in weapon system, HHQ-10 surface-to-air missiles, and advanced AESA radar arrays, possibly the Type 346B.
Sea trials began in April 2024, focusing initially on propulsion and mooring tests.
By September 2025, Fujian had completed nine trials, including successful catapult launches and arrested landings of J-15T fighters, J-35 stealth aircraft, and KJ-600 AEW planes.
J-15 Fighter. Image Credit: Screenshot from Weibo.
These tests confirmed the operational readiness of its EMALS system. On November 5, 2025, Fujian was formally commissioned at Sanya in a ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping.
Although now officially in service, the carrier will continue work-up trials before achieving full operational capability.
How Does Fujian Stack Up to America’s Carriers? She Falls Short
The Type 003 is a significant improvement over the PLAN’s previous carriers. It enables China to conduct blue-water operations with a carrier capable of launching heavier aircraft and supporting advanced mission profiles, including airborne early warning and stealth strike.
This capability significantly enhances China’s ability to project power beyond its coastal waters and challenges the long-standing dominance of U.S. carrier strike groups in the Indo-Pacific.
That being said, Fujian still falls short in several areas. The Ford-class displaces around 100,000 tons, uses nuclear propulsion for virtually unlimited endurance, and generates far greater electrical power. It also features four EMALS catapults and three aircraft elevators, compared to Fujian’s three catapults and two elevators.
Nevertheless, Fujian has closed much of the technological gap and placed China firmly among the world’s top-tier carrier operators.
What Fujian Means for China
China is reportedly developing the Type 004 carrier, which is expected to be nuclear-powered and displace over 110,000 tons.
This future platform may incorporate molten-salt reactors and even more advanced systems, further narrowing the gap with U.S. supercarriers. Fujian, therefore, serves as a critical stepping stone toward China’s long-term goal of fielding a globally competitive carrier fleet.
The Type 003 Fujian is a landmark achievement for China’s naval modernization. It is the first fully indigenous Chinese carrier equipped with CATOBAR and EMALS technology, displacing around 80,000 tons and supporting a modern air wing that includes stealth fighters and AEW aircraft.
Ford-Class. Image Credit: Creative Commons
Commissioned in November 2025 after extensive trials, Fujian significantly enhances China’s ability to project power and alters the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific.
While it does not yet match the endurance and capacity of U.S. nuclear-powered carriers, Fujian signals China’s arrival as a significant carrier-operating power. It sets the stage for even more advanced platforms in the near future.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
More Military
The Russian Military Is In Crisis
The U.S. Military’s Superpower Status Is Slipping Away
The F-35 Looks Like It Might Be In Real Trouble Now
The F-22 Raptor Has 1 Enemy It Can Never Beat (Not Russia or China)
Shitpile
November 11, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Aircraft carriers are giant floating coffins.
Especially for all the people working below decks.
But Does a bum like xi know that. Xi knows shit.