China’s most modern aircraft carrier Fujian to enter service in 2025 to challenge US in Pacific.

As reported by CCTV News (China's national state-owned television broadcaster) on June 17, 2025, China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is expected to enter service within the year, marking the third anniversary of its launch from Jiangnan Shipyard on June 17, 2022. The vessel, designated hull number 18, is the first Chinese aircraft carrier to integrate electromagnetic catapult launch systems with conventional propulsion.
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The Fujian is equipped to support a diverse air wing comprising stealth fighter jets, electronic warfare aircraft, airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platforms, anti-submarine warfare aircraft, and unmanned systems. (Picture source: Chinese MoD)

Since its launch, the Fujian has completed a sequence of eight sea trials, beginning in May 2024, accumulating more than 100 days at sea. The seventh sea trial, acknowledged during a Ministry of National Defense briefing in March 2025, concentrated on electromagnetic compatibility testing with carrier-based aircraft. The most recent trial in late May included flight operations involving the Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter adapted for catapult-assisted takeoff, suggesting the carrier is in the final stages of evaluation ahead of commissioning.

The Fujian features a flat, full-length flight deck and three electromagnetic catapults with arresting gear. Its full-load displacement exceeds 80,000 tons. It is the first conventionally powered aircraft carrier in the world to adopt electromagnetic catapult systems, a configuration that had previously only been operational on the nuclear-powered USS Gerald R. Ford. According to Chinese media commentary, the Fujian is equipped to support a diverse air wing comprising fixed-wing fighters, electronic warfare aircraft, airborne early warning and control platforms, anti-submarine warfare aircraft, and unmanned systems. Chinese military commentators have stated that the aircraft to be deployed will include the J-15T catapult-compatible version of the J-15 Flying Shark, the J-15D electronic warfare variant, and potentially new-generation platforms such as the J-35 and the KJ-600 early warning aircraft.

The J-15T and J-15D were presented during the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, and are derived from earlier models used aboard the Liaoning and Shandong. The J-15T is structurally reinforced for catapult operations, while the J-15D provides electronic warfare support. The J-35, a twin-engine, stealth-capable, carrier-borne fighter, was also shown in model form at the same event, and has been observed in test configurations on board the Fujian. Analysts cited in state broadcasts have explained that the J-35 may optimize limited hangar space through its size and folding wing design, enabling increased aircraft capacity on board. The Fujian’s air operations are also expected to include fixed-wing airborne early warning aircraft featuring active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems. These systems are intended to extend detection range and improve multi-target tracking capacity, allowing for integration into a layered carrier-based surveillance network.

The Fujian, also known as the Type 003, joins two existing Chinese carriers. The Liaoning (or Type 001), commissioned in 2012, was reconstructed from the ex-Soviet Varyag hull and served as the foundational training and experimentation platform for China’s initial carrier operations. The Shandong (or Type 002), commissioned in 2019, is the first domestically built Chinese carrier, based on the Liaoning design but incorporating an improved internal layout and aircraft handling capacity. The Fujian differs from both predecessors by adopting electromagnetic launch systems and represents the first Chinese carrier not using a ski-jump takeoff. As such, the three ships demonstrate a phased progression in carrier development: initial adaptation of foreign platforms, domestic reproduction with modifications, and independent development with new systems. Each of the three carriers is expected to operate in different maritime areas and to support a three-stage deployment rotation model involving active service, readiness standby, and scheduled maintenance.

The Fujian’s commissioning will enable the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to operate in three key maritime theaters simultaneously: the East China Sea, South China Sea, and the broader Western Pacific. Debate continues over whether the Fujian will be assigned to the East Sea Fleet or the South Sea Fleet. While the East Sea Fleet lacks a carrier and faces tensions across the Taiwan Strait, proponents for the South Sea Fleet argue that regional challenges, particularly increased U.S. naval activity and Philippine disputes in the South China Sea, demand a more capable deterrent force. The carrier’s range and endurance may also enable deployments into the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, supporting the protection of maritime lines of communication and overseas interests. This includes the strategic corridor from the South China Sea through the Strait of Malacca into the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. These discussions also involve the role of carrier-based air power in supporting China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy, which aims to extend engagement range and deter intervention from external military forces, particularly in the context of U.S. Navy presence in the region.

Technical assessments indicate that the Fujian’s electromagnetic launch and arrest systems could be powered by a medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) integrated power system. This infrastructure is designed to supply power not only for launch systems but also for high-consumption radar and communications equipment. Reporting from both domestic and foreign sources has described the ship as fitted with AESA radars and high-energy electrical generators. These systems are compatible with future naval developments, including potential electromagnetic railguns or laser weapon systems. The ship’s propulsion is based on steam turbines with auxiliary diesel generators, and its maximum speed is estimated to be around 31 to 35 knots, with a range that may approach 10,000 nautical miles. The integrated design is considered a platform for evaluating technologies relevant to future Chinese nuclear-powered carriers, possibly designated as Type 004 or 005, expected by the end of the decade.

The entry of the Fujian into service will bring the PLAN to a fleet of three aircraft carriers. This force level permits rotational deployments, with one carrier available for operations, another in port for replenishment or maintenance, and the third undergoing training or preparation. Military analysts have emphasized that such a structure is necessary to sustain a continuous presence in priority regions, including the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and areas of the Western Pacific. Recent dual-carrier exercises involving the Liaoning and Shandong in 2024 were cited by state sources as examples of this evolving capability. Additionally, during its final sea trial phase, CCTV emphasized that the Fujian could be used to support long-range transport missions, including with cargo aircraft, indicating a broader operational scope. The full commissioning of the Fujian may occur as early as August 2025, coinciding with the PLA’s anniversary, though estimates suggest the process could extend into early 2026 depending on test outcomes and integration milestones.