China's Navy Enters a Game-Changing Three-Carrier Era with the Advanced Fujian Carrier

Key Points

China’s Navy has entered a three-carrier era, marked by the advanced Fujian (Fujian 福建) carrier.
The Fujian (Fujian 福建) carrier is China’s first fully domestically designed and built catapult carrier, featuring electromagnetic catapults – a technology possessed by only two countries globally (US and China).
Having three carriers enables strategic capabilities like simultaneous deployment in three major directions and a robust operational rotation for constant readiness.
The rapid development of China’s carriers, from the refitted Liaoning (Liaoning 辽宁) to the innovative Fujian (Fujian 福建), is driven by comprehensive national strength, robust economic support, world-class shipbuilding capabilities, and significant independent innovation.

Heads up, tech and defense watchers!

China’s Navy is seriously leveling up, stepping into a three-carrier era with the game-changing Fujian (Fujian 福建) carrier leading the charge.

This isn’t just another ship; the Fujian carrier is a beast and a symbol of China’s rapidly advancing maritime capabilities.

Let’s break down what makes the Fujian (Fujian 福建) carrier so special:

It’s China’s first completely domestically designed and built catapult aircraft carrier. That’s a huge milestone.
It boasts a flat, through-deck flight deck.
Crucially, it’s equipped with cutting-edge electromagnetic catapults and arresting gear. More on this tech in a bit!
It has a full displacement exceeding 80,000 tons.
Here’s a world first: it’s the first conventionally powered aircraft carrier to use electromagnetic launch technology. This is a significant leap, putting it in a very exclusive club.

Key Milestones for the Fujian Carrier

The journey of the Fujian (Fujian 福建) carrier, pennant number 18, has been closely watched:

June 17, 2022: Launched and officially named. A red-letter day for China’s Navy.
September 23, 2022: Began mooring tests, hitting its planned targets.
May 1, 2024: Embarked on its first sea trial, a critical 8-day phase.
During this trial, it successfully completed tests on its power, electrical, and other system equipment, meeting all anticipated objectives.

Currently, the Fujian carrier’s sea trials are progressing steadily and on schedule.

This progress signals a major upgrade in naval strength for the nation.

Resume Captain

Your AI Career Toolkit:

AI Resume Optimization
Custom Cover Letters
LinkedIn Profile Boost
Interview Question Prep
Salary Negotiation Agent

Get Started Free

The Three-Carrier Era: Ensuring Perpetual Reserves and Strategic Depth

So, what does having three aircraft carriers actually mean for China’s maritime strategy?

Military commentator Wei Dongxu (Wei Dongxu 魏东旭) sheds some light on this pivotal development.

He calls the successful build-out of a three-carrier combat system “a very important achievement” in China’s military modernization.

This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about a comprehensive enhancement of defensive capabilities in the maritime domain.

These carriers are seen as the “most crucial maritime combat platform for conducting active and proactive defense.”

China’s Three Active Aircraft Carriers
Carrier Name	Pennant Number	Type	Notes
Liaoning (Liaoning 辽宁)	16	Ski-jump	Refitted Soviet Kuznetsov-class, training/research platform
Shandong (Shandong 山东)	17	Ski-jump	First indigenously built carrier
Fujian (Fujian 福建)	18	Catapult (EMALS)	First domestically designed catapult carrier with electromagnetic launch

Why Three is the Magic Number:

Strategic Deployment: Possessing three carriers allows for simultaneous deployment in three major directions. Think flexibility and reach.
Enhanced Mobility: Carrier strike groups are inherently mobile, providing greater strategic depth for security.
Operational Rotation & Readiness: This is key. A three-carrier system enables a robust rotation:
- One carrier could be undergoing maintenance.
- Another might be on alert status, ready for immediate deployment.
- A third could be actively at sea, conducting missions.

Wei Dongxu (Wei Dongxu 魏东旭) emphasizes that this ensures “we always have reserves and backup forces” when it comes to utilizing carrier platforms.

This significantly boosts China’s capacity to safeguard its maritime rights and interests and ensure the security of vital sea lanes.

The big question on everyone’s mind: Will this three-carrier era revolutionize combat models?

The potential is certainly there.

The Fujian Carrier: A Leap in Innovation and Capability

Looking ahead, how will these three carriers—the Liaoning (Liaoning 辽宁), Shandong (Shandong 山东), and the new Fujian (Fujian 福建)—be positioned functionally?

What roles will they play in enhancing the overall operational capability of China’s navy?

Wei Dongxu (Wei Dongxu 魏东旭) provides a clear evolutionary perspective:

The Liaoning carrier (Liaoning 辽宁): Originally a decommissioned carrier acquired from abroad, it was refitted to become China’s first aircraft carrier. Its entry into service was a maritime scientific research and testing platform, essentially teaching China how to operate such complex vessels.
The Shandong carrier (Shandong 山东): Built upon the learnings from the Liaoning, this was China’s first indigenously researched, developed, and constructed carrier. A clear signal of growing self-sufficiency.

Then comes the Fujian carrier (Fujian 福建), and this is where things get really interesting.

The pace and achievements of innovation with the Fujian have, as Wei Dongxu (Wei Dongxu 魏东旭) notes, “greatly surprised the outside world.”

China didn’t just iterate; it leaped:

From a ski-jump carrier (like Liaoning and Shandong) directly to a catapult carrier.
And not just any catapult, but an electromagnetic catapult (EMALS). This is cutting-edge tech.

Fun Fact: Currently, only two countries in the world possess electromagnetic catapult technology for aircraft carriers: the United States and China.

Key Milestones of the Fujian Carrier’s Development

June 17, 2022: Launched and Officially Named
September 23, 2022: Began Mooring Tests
May 1, 2024: Embarked on First Sea Trial (8 days)
Trial included testing Power, Electrical, and other System Equipment

Some authoritative analyses even suggest China’s electromagnetic catapult technology might be even more advanced than that of the US in certain aspects.

This tech allows for launching heavier aircraft, a wider variety of aircraft, and potentially with less stress on the airframes.

What’s Next for the Fujian’s Air Wing?

The implications for air power are significant.

Wei Dongxu (Wei Dongxu 魏东旭) hints at exciting developments: “In the future, on the Fujian carrier, we may see new faces, not just the J-15 (Jian-15 歼-15) Flying Shark.”

This suggests a new generation of carrier-based aircraft is likely on the horizon, designed to integrate with this advanced carrier to form an even more powerful maritime defense combat system.

Imagine the possibilities for air superiority and strike capabilities. (Perhaps a topic for another deep dive: China’s Next-Gen Carrier Aircraft).

Find Top Talent on China's Leading Networks

Post Across China's Job Sites from $299 / role, or
Hire Our Recruiting Pros from $799 / role

- - - - - - - -

Qualified Candidate Bundles
Lower Hiring Costs by 80%+
Expert Team Since 2014

Get 25% Off
Your First Job Post

The “China Speed”: Fueled by National Strength and Technological Prowess

From modifying the Liaoning (Liaoning 辽宁), to indigenously building the Shandong (Shandong 山东), and now to the comprehensive innovation of the Fujian (Fujian 福建) – this rapid development is often dubbed “China speed.”

What are the key technological breakthroughs and underlying factors driving this impressive aircraft carrier development program?

Wei Dongxu (Wei Dongxu 魏东旭) points to several crucial elements:

Comprehensive National Strength: First and foremost, it’s the overall enhancement of China’s national power.
Economic Foundation: A growing economy provides sufficient defense funding to invest in these massive, complex large maritime combat platforms.
World-Class Shipbuilding Capability: This is critical. China now possesses:
- Immense dry docks capable of constructing aircraft carriers.
- A highly skilled team of engineers.
- A wealth of experienced workers and technical personnel.
Systemic Support: There’s a systemic guarantee for building aircraft carriers, including the necessary talent pool and ample funding.
Independent Innovation: A continuous drive for independent innovation in design and manufacturing processes.

The result, as Wei Dongxu (Wei Dongxu 魏东旭) concludes, is that “our aircraft carriers are being built larger and more advanced, and their combat capability is undeniably escalating step by step.”

This isn’t just about building ships; it’s about building an entire ecosystem of design, engineering, manufacturing, and operational expertise.

The launch and ongoing trials of the Fujian (Fujian 福建) carrier mark a significant moment.

It’s a testament to focused investment, technological ambition, and strategic foresight.

This leap forward, underpinned by national strength and distinct technological breakthroughs, solidifies China’s Navy’s ambition and its strategic positioning in the evolving global maritime landscape, especially with the advanced Fujian carrier defining the new three-carrier era.