China Commissions Third Aircraft Carrier, Bolstering Naval Power

China officially put its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, into service today, marking a significant expansion of its naval capabilities and increasing its projection of power in the Pacific region.

The commissioning ceremony, held earlier today and reported by Xinhua news agency, showcased the Fujian’s advanced features, including electromagnetic catapult launchers – a technology previously only implemented on the U.S. Navy’s newest carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford. This new system allows for the launch of heavier, fully-loaded aircraft, including early-warning and control planes, extending the carrier’s operational range and effectiveness. The Fujian is China’s first domestically designed aircraft carrier, following the Liaoning, a refurbished Soviet ship, and the Shandong, built on the Liaoning’s design. This development is viewed by regional analysts as a demonstration of China’s growing ambition and technological advancement in the naval sphere.

While the Fujian represents a leap forward for the Chinese navy, it still lags behind the United States, which operates 11 aircraft carriers. The Fujian’s displacement exceeds 80,000 tons, though it is smaller than the 100,000-ton American Nimitz and Ford-class carriers, and is estimated to carry between 40 and 60 aircraft. Unlike its American counterparts, the Fujian is not nuclear-powered, limiting its range to approximately 8,000 to 10,000 nautical miles. For comparison, the U.S. Navy utilizes nuclear-powered carriers with virtually unlimited range.

“The country’s carrier development is moving in that direction,” Zhang Junshe, a researcher at the military’s naval research institute, told state broadcaster CCTV in September, referring to the potential for future Chinese carriers to incorporate nuclear propulsion. The addition of the Fujian places China ahead of nations like India, the United Kingdom, and Italy, each of which operate two aircraft carriers. Further development of China’s carrier fleet is expected to continue as it seeks to secure its interests in the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and the South China Sea, areas of ongoing geopolitical tension, as detailed in recent Council on Foreign Relations analysis.

Chinese officials have indicated that further advancements in carrier technology, including nuclear propulsion, are under consideration for future generations of aircraft carriers.