China’s Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that the sea trials of the Fujian (Type 003) aircraft carrier are progressing as planned and form a standard component of its construction process.
Defense spokesperson Wu Qian addressed questions during a press conference on Friday, following reports of the vessel’s latest trial activity near the Yangtze River estuary earlier this month.
“The trials of the Fujian are a routine and necessary part of its construction process, with subsequent trials to follow as work on the carrier advances,” Wu stated.
The Fujian, China’s first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, conducted its maiden sea trials in May 2024. The latest trials reportedly focused on further familiarizing the crew with the vessel’s advanced systems and technologies, including ship operations, aircraft lifts, electronics, and weapons storage.
Weighing approximately 85,000 tonnes at full-load displacement, the Fujian marks a significant evolution in China’s naval capabilities. It surpasses its predecessors, the Liaoning and Shandong, which are based on the Soviet Kuznetsov-class design, with an approximate displacement of 65,000 tonnes. The Fujian’s design is more closely aligned with U.S. carrier models, particularly in its use of electromagnetic catapults for launching aircraft, though it employs conventional propulsion rather than nuclear.
The Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration’s announcement of temporary traffic control measures for large vessels entering the Yangtze River estuary earlier in December coincided with the carrier’s return to port, sparking media inquiries into its progress.
While official details remain limited, analysts suggest the Fujian’s trials are crucial for testing its operational readiness and integrating its various advanced systems. The adoption of electromagnetic catapults is seen as a technological leap forward for China’s naval aviation capabilities, enabling faster and more efficient aircraft launches compared to the ski-jump ramps used on earlier carriers.
As the largest and most advanced vessel in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s fleet, the Fujian symbolizes China’s growing ambition to enhance its blue-water navy capabilities and project power further from its shores. However, challenges remain in fine-tuning its systems and ensuring the seamless integration of its air wing with carrier operations.