China’s Fujian aircraft carrier, boasting state-of-the-art electromagnetic catapults, is set to revolutionize the People’s Liberation Army-Navy’s ( PLAN ) maritime prowess, edging closer to challenging US naval dominance at sea.
This month, The War Zone reported that China’s PLAN showcased its latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, with a state-of-the-art rocket program and movable enclosed power station, also referred to as the “bubble” and suggestive of those found on US Navy ships.
The ship is seen in the footage that was released this month, according to The War Zone, which shows the carrier going through its third sea trial in Bohai Bay, northern China. The Fujian, China’s first Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery ( CATOBAR ) carrier, employs electromagnetic catapults, significantly enhancing the PLAN’s operational capabilities, the report said.
The rocket system, highlighted in a special video, features three electromagnetic catapults and a power train integrated into the flight deck, mirroring the US Navy’s Ford-class carriers.
According to The War Zone, Fujian’s successful launch of aircraft will set the PLAN on a significant footnote, allowing China to join the US in deploying electromagnetic aircraft launch systems ( EMALS ).
The Fujian’s EMALS technology marks a vital shift from the limitations of ski-ramp systems, offering greater functional flexibility, efficiency and build capabilities—though reliability challenges will also illustrate the gap between Chinese and US carrier expertise.
In a February 2009 article for The Aeronautical Journal, A Fry and various writers mention that ski-ramp designs for aircraft operators, while useful for quick take-off and horizontal landing (STOVL ) aircraft, provide many functional disadvantages.
Fry and others claim that the ramp’s ballistic launch profile significantly increases the stress on the landing gear as the aircraft climbs the curved incline in comparison to flat-deck takeoffs.
They point out that the aircraft’s landing gear’s increased curvature causes more wear and tear, which limits the ramp’s ideal size.
They point out that the ski-ramp restricts the maximum weight of aircraft and the payload that can be launched, especially in extreme weather, such as high temperatures and low wind speeds.
Fry and others point out that these drawbacks lead to a lower performance margin, especially in contrast to catapult-launched systems, which allow aircraft to launch with heavier payloads over shorter distances.
In the 2022 book” Technology Innovation in Mechanical Engineering,” Shreyas Maitreya and other authors mention that EMALS offers greater efficiency and precision than traditional steam catapults, making for smoother and more controlled launches.
Maitreya and others note that this system lowers the cost of maintenance and increases the longevity of the aircraft due to a decrease in wear and tear on the launch equipment.
They claim that EMALS can launch a wider range of aircraft, including lighter unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAVs ) and heavier manned ones. This technology makes naval forces more flexible operationally and increases sortie times by allowing more frequent and quicker launches.
Maitreya and others note that EMALS uses electrical power that can be more easily managed and distributed on contemporary naval vessels.
However, EMALS technology may still have to overcome reliability challenges. According to a US Congressional Research Service ( CRS ) report from July 2024, EMALS reliability aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford-class carriers has not significantly improved despite engineering improvements, with mean cycles between operational mission failures (MCBOMF) remaining consistent with recent developmental tests.
According to the CRS report, EMALS’ reliance on off-ship technical support is still a significant issue. Although it claims that there have been efforts to improve reliability, such as improved catapult position sensor blocks and software updates, there have n’t been significant changes made.
The source says that although the US Navy is working on further improvements, the system’s current state still poses risks to operational effectiveness and suitability.
Kevin Kusumoto mentions in an article for the US Foreign Military Studies Office ( FMSO ) this month that the Fujian represents a significant improvement in size and technology compared to China’s previous carriers.
Kusumoto points out that Fujian’s construction highlights China’s growing capacity to create and develop domestic carriers, breaking away from its prior reliance on Soviet designs.
He says that once Fujian completes sea trials and officially joins China’s fleet, it will significantly enhance the PLAN’s capabilities, signaling the start of China’s” three carrier era”.
He claims that having three carriers enables China to maintain one carrier for maintenance, another for training, and a third for carrying out carrier operations in strategically important maritime areas like the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and Indian Ocean.
However, Kusumoto says that the US still maintains a considerable lead over China in carrier application, experience and technology. He claims that China ca n’t match the US’s extensive carrier experience from World War II.
He claims that the US Navy has integrated carrier operations into larger joint and combined arms strategies and developed a well-established and effective approach over many years.
On the other hand, he points out that the PLAN does not have this same extensive historical, practical and combat experience.
Still, despite China’s inexperience in carrier operations, the Fujian will improve China’s technological capabilities and provide crucial operational experience through its extensive sea trials, positioning the PLAN for increased naval influence, Kusumoto argues.
In line with advances in China’s carrier program, Kyle Mizokami notes in a March 2024 Popular Mechanics article that China is constructing its fourth aircraft carrier, confirmed by Vice Admiral Yuan Huazhi, marking another significant step in China’s naval expansion.
Mizokami states that the fourth carrier may be China’s first nuclear-powered surface ship, a milestone in China’s military technology. He points out that the under-construction ship is anticipated to help China advance its wider strategic objectives by enabling its ability to project its military might abroad.
He points out that China now has seven carriers in its Pacific Fleet, making it the second most significant naval force in the world.
The fourth Chinese carrier’s nuclear propulsion would offer virtually limitless range, a crucial benefit for extended missions, he says. Mizokami points out that China’s expansion of its carrier fleet is a result of its desire to eventually have nuclear-powered carriers capable of maintaining its at-sea presence.