The third aircraft carrier, Fujian, was revealed by China CCTV on January 2nd. The three rows of catapults that help planes take off are clear./CCTV capture
As the conflict between the US and China continues over the Taiwan Strait, China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has embarked on its first test flight. Aircraft carriers are deployed through four stages of preparation, including construction, launch, mooring test, and sea trial As the aircraft carrier reaches the final stage, it is more likely that it will be officially commissioned within this year. The name of the new aircraft carrier comes from Fujian Province, which faces Taiwan, and is interpreted as reflecting China’s will to ‘unify Taiwan.’
On the 1st, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported that the Fujian left Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard at 8 am on this day and made a test voyage. In this mission, the propulsion of the aircraft carrier and the stability of the electrical system were tested. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong previously reported that maritime traffic control measures had been imposed in the Yangtze River Estuary, where the shipyard is located, from today to the 9th due to ‘military activities’ .
Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong (left) and US nuclear aircraft carrier Nimitz./SNS
Fujian attracts attention because it was independently designed by China, unlike the current Liaoning and Shandong, which were based on the design of the former Soviet aircraft carrier. The Liaoning, deployed in 2012, has the symbolism of being China’s first aircraft carrier, but is known as a Soviet ‘lump of scrap metal’ because it was bought and remodeled from the Baryak, which had to cease production in the Soviet Union. . Although the Shandong is said to be built by China, it is modeled after the Liaoning and has a similar appearance.
For this reason, the performance of Fujian is significantly higher than that of Liaoning and Shandong. The fully loaded displacement is about 80,000 tons, which is less than the 100,000-ton American aircraft carriers, but overwhelmingly more than the ships Liaoning and Shandong, which weigh about 60,000 tons . It is expected that more than 60 aircraft, including the J-15 and the KJ-600 early warning aircraft, will be specifically installed, attention is being paid to the possibility that China’s 5th generation stealth aircraft FC-31 are loaded.
In addition, the Liaoning and Shandong use a ‘ski jump’ with the bow higher than the stern to launch their aircraft, but the Fujian adopted an electromagnetic catapult (ejection device). Using a catapult, you can fly many heavily armed military aircraft in a short period of time. In a video released by China’s state-run CCTV, three catapults mounted on the Fujian are clearly visible.
A scene where China’s state-run CCTV presents in a news report in 2022 that the Fujian’s performance tests are developing rapidly./CCTV Capture
However, since the Fujian uses conventional power rather than nuclear power, it can be difficult to secure the huge amount of power required for the electronic catapult.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense is concerned that the Fujian will pose a ‘significant threat’ to Taiwan if deployed. The Chinese military sent a warning message to Taiwan by uncovering the Fujian in January, before Taiwan’s presidential election. China aims to have a naval force that will prevent US aircraft carrier battle groups from coming within 1,000 km of the Taiwan Strait. In addition, we plan to develop at least four aircraft carrier battle groups by 2030 to develop the world’s second ocean fleet after the United States. To this end, we intend to secure a total of six aircraft carriers by 2035. With China’s growth in the number of aircraft carriers, the competition for maritime supremacy with the United States is expected to intensify.
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