According to reports from state media, the Chinese navy initiated sea trials for its third and most advanced aircraft carrier on Wednesday.
This signifies the final phase before the warship is officially put into service. The Fujian, with a displacement of 80,000 metric tons, surpasses the size of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s two active carriers, the Shandong and Liaoning. Only the US Navy possesses larger aircraft carriers than the Fujian.
Notably, the Fujian boasts a full-length, flat flight deck equipped with an advanced catapult-launch system, enabling it to launch larger and heavier aircraft compared to its predecessors. These sea trials are crucial in evaluating the reliability and stability of the carrier’s propulsion and electric power systems.
Experts believe that the Fujian’s capability to deploy larger warplanes carrying heavier munition loads over longer distances will grant the Chinese navy enhanced combat range and the ability to operate on the high seas.
John Bradford, an International Affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, emphasized the significance of the Fujian’s sea trials as a major milestone for the PLAN, signifying its entry into the exclusive group of elite carrier aviation-capable navies. Brian Hart, a fellow at the China Power Project, further highlighted that once the Fujian joins the PLAN fleet, it will serve as the most prominent symbol of China’s expanding naval power.
Expected to be operational by late next year or in 2026, the Fujian’s addition will bolster China’s position as the world’s largest naval force, boasting over 340 warships and counting. Additionally, there are indications that the Chinese fleet may soon announce the construction of a fourth carrier, as mentioned by PLAN political commissar Yuan Huazhi in March, as reported by the Global Times.
