Chinese military media (yes, that's a thing; remember, these are commies) recently released video of their newest Chinese-built aircraft carrier, the Fujian, launching and recovering aircraft. This is a significant step in China's naval ambitions because nothing says "projecting power" like an aircraft carrier.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s newest and most capable aircraft carrier launched and recovered the next-generation of Chinese naval aircraft – including the J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter, J-15 attack jet and KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft, according to the PLAN.
Media from the Chinese military showed Fujian (18) launching and recovering the advanced aircraft, as well as conducting deck operations, in what the People’s Liberation Army Navy claimed to be a first for the carrier. The involved aircraft were recently seen over Beijing during China’s military parade on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War.
Here, watch:
Named after a Southeastern Chinese province, Fujian is one of the most advanced vessels to come out of the country’s extensive naval modernization and expansion programs. The Type 003 aircraft carrier was launched in the summer of 2022, making it the largest warship to be launched in Asia since the end of World War II.
The 80,000-ton carrier is capable of supporting an embarked air wing of 40 aircraft. The new warship represents a significant leap in capability for Beijing from the Russian-derived short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) operated flattops Liaoning (016) and Shandong (017).
An American carrier of the Nimitz class can load 85-90 aircraft, and displaces 97-100,000 tons, more than doubling the aircraft capacity without being that much larger. We also have 11 nuclear-powered super-carriers, to China's one. That's not a favorable correlation of forces for China.
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But this state of affairs may not last.
Ben Lewis, a co-founder of PLATracker, told USNI News that the test was a “significant milestone” for the Chinese military’s carrier program.
“While it appears likely that the tests were done earlier this year, the choice to release the footage during Fujian’s ninth sea trials suggests that Fujian will likely be ready for commissioning in the near future,” Lewis said.
Lewis also highlighted the power projection capabilities that Beijing could wield with the new carrier and aerial capabilities.
“Once operational, the PLAN will have the capacity to field fifth-generation stealth carrier aircraft, supported by fixed-wing carrier-based airborne early warning and command aircraft, across the first island chain and Western Pacific Ocean,” Lewis said.
China is ramping up maritime production. One working aircraft carrier is almost certainly the first of many. Granted, Chinese pilots are now just learning things that American naval aviators have known for decades, but they are clearly learning, and once that body of knowledge is developed, it will be passed on.
It's apparent that China wants to be the dominant power in the Western Pacific. This isn't just making Taiwan nervous. Japan is retrofitting some of its light carriers to handle VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft like the F-35B. Under Secretary of War Hegseth, the United States is looking to get back into the warship-building business, but all that takes time - perhaps decades.
Meanwhile, China is dialing its naval aviation arm in. If that's not making some heads sweat in the Pentagon, it should be.
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