Overview
- China formally placed the Fujian in service on Hainan in a ceremony attended by Xi Jinping, following initial sea trials in 2024 and public flight footage released this year.
- Electromagnetic catapults allow launches of heavier, more varied aircraft with greater range, a capability otherwise fielded only by the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford class.
- The Fujian is conventionally powered and described by state media as the largest and most advanced aircraft carrier China has built.
- Experts say China still lags the United States in carrier operations, air wing integration, and real combat experience, so the ship will focus on trials and force development.
- Persistent reports point to a potential fourth carrier entering service in the early 2030s, but those plans remain unconfirmed.