Delivery Ceremony of the Fujian Aircraft Carrier

President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, presented the flag to the Fujian aircraft carrier, marking the carrier’s induction into service.

The Fujian is the first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults to be built in China for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

The carrier, which was laid down in 2019 and launched in 2022, has recently completed launch and recovery tests of the onboard J-15T, J-35, and KongJing-600 radar surveillance and early warning aircraft.

Features of the Fujian

The Fujian, with its angled flight deck, is the first aircraft carrier being designed and built in China that is equipped with electromagnetic (EMAL) medium voltage direct current catapults (three).

The unit has an estimated displacement of 85,000 tons, with dimensions of 316 meters in length and about 76 meters in width at the flight deck.

The new Type 003 carrier employs an integrated propelling system (IPS), with steam turbines and diesel generators.

Once fully operational, it is expected that the Fujian will handle more than fifty aircraft, including J-15T bombers, J-35A bombers, KJ-600 radar surveillance aircraft, helicopters, and HK-5000G reconnaissance and attack drones.

Photo credit @Xinhua/Li Gang