Fujian aircraft carrier approaches commissioning as China demonstrates catapult launch capability.

China continues to advance its naval transformation at a steady pace, as shown by the recent broadcast of an official documentary on CCTV approved by the Central Military Commission. The series revealed new information on the development of Fujian, China’s first aircraft carrier equipped with catapult launch systems, and also highlighted progress in the country’s amphibious warfare shipbuilding program. The footage, supported by testimony from military personnel and technical experts involved in the trials, confirms that Fujian is now in the final phase before entering operational service.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The Fujian (Type 003), designated hull number 18, is China’s third aircraft carrier and the first to be entirely domestically designed (Picture source: China MoD)

The Fujian (Type 003), designated hull number 18, is China’s third aircraft carrier and the first to be entirely domestically designed. Built at the Jiangnan Shipyard, it was launched in June 2022 and began sea trials in May 2024. At 316 meters in length, 76 meters in beam, and with a full-load displacement estimated between 80,000 and 85,000 tons, it is comparable in size to the former U.S. Kitty Hawk class. Fujian is also the first Chinese carrier to use electromagnetic catapults (CATOBAR), a launch system previously only deployed aboard the U.S. USS Gerald R. Ford. The ship is fitted with three electromagnetic catapults, an angled flight deck for arrested landings, and a large internal hangar. The air wing is expected to consist of more than 50 aircraft, including at least 40 fixed-wing platforms and 12 helicopters. Planned assets include the J-15T multirole fighter, the J-15D electronic warfare variant, the stealth-capable J-35, and the KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft. Propulsion is provided by steam turbines powered by diesel generators. The vessel does not use nuclear propulsion. While specific details on defensive systems have not been confirmed, it is likely equipped with close-in weapon systems (CIWS), short-range surface-to-air missiles, and shipborne electronic warfare suites.

In one of the episodes, the documentary shows—for the first time—footage of carrier-based aircraft performing catapult-assisted takeoffs. The scenes are accompanied by reactions from the crew and engineers, marking what they describe as a significant moment in the development process. According to those interviewed, the move from simulated to live catapult launches represents a critical transition, as real-world sea conditions place additional physical and psychological demands on pilots that simulations cannot fully replicate.

Commander Tian Wei, from Fujian’s aviation department, notes in the documentary that teams are working to ensure a seamless transition between ski-jump and catapult launch operations. The goal is to streamline the conversion process and bring the new systems to combat readiness as quickly as possible. With multiple sea trials conducted over more than a year, Fujian has helped improve coordination among engineers, shipbuilders, and crew, strengthening procedural familiarity. This level of preparation is expected to enable immediate combat readiness upon commissioning, a new approach in China’s naval doctrine. The integration of delivery and operational transfer is being positioned as a standard moving forward.

This capability is part of a broader strategy aimed at building what Chinese authorities refer to as the "five-piece set" of carrier-based aviation assets. These consist of a stealth fighter, a catapult-launched multirole fighter, a fixed-wing early warning aircraft, an electronic warfare platform, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter. Fujian is expected to be the first Chinese carrier to field all five components in operational configuration. According to military analyst Zhang Junshe, this configuration is nearing completion. In the future, carrier-based aircraft such as the J-15T and J-35 are expected to operate interchangeably across both ski-jump carriers like Liaoning and Shandong and catapult-equipped platforms like Fujian. This level of cross-platform compatibility is considered essential for coordinated multi-carrier operations.

Simultaneously, CCTV confirmed the formal appearance of Hubei, the fourth ship in the Type 075 amphibious assault class. Recently seen operating alongside Hainan in the South China Sea, Hubei reflects continued growth in China’s amphibious capabilities. Type 075 ships feature a full-length flight deck that allows for simultaneous takeoffs and landings of multiple helicopters. Their well decks can carry air-cushioned landing craft, armored vehicles, and tanks. From Hainan to Guangxi, then Anhui and now Hubei, the Chinese Navy has progressively expanded its amphibious fleet. Zhang Junshe notes that these ships are well suited to serve as the command platform of an amphibious task group, able to integrate with destroyers, frigates, and replenishment ships to conduct over-the-horizon landing operations and long-range force projection missions.

These developments underscore China’s expanding naval projection capabilities. With a carrier like Fujian equipped with advanced technologies and an increasingly capable amphibious fleet, the People’s Liberation Army Navy is building the tools required for sustained operations in distant maritime theaters. This trajectory, supported by ongoing industrial and technological advancement, is enabling China to operate farther from its coastline and safeguard overseas interests with greater operational autonomy.