The electromagnetic catapults will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Type 003 Fujian, allowing for heavier aircraft to operate from its flight deck.
The sea trials of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) newest aircraft carrier, the Type 003 Fujian, continue, including flight operations. Chinese state media released a short video of the conventionally powered carrier launching aircraft carrying out the launches of Shenyang J-15T Flying Shark aircraft from the flight deck.
Unlike China’s previous two carriers, the Type 001 Liaoning and Type 002 Shandong, which each employ a ski jump ramp, the Type 003 Fujian is fitted with electromagnetic catapults. A six-and-a-half-minute video was recently presented on the state broadcast China Central TV (CCTV), airing as part of a specially produced Forging Ahead documentary on the history of the People’s Liberation Army—the first of the five episodes aired on August 1 to mark the 98th anniversary of the PLA.
The Fujian’s New Catapults Are Just as Good as America’s
The electromagnetic catapults will significantly enhance the capabilities of the carrier, allowing for heavier aircraft to operate from the flight deck. The Type 003 Fujian will be just the second carrier, apart from the United States Navy’s Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford-class flattops, to employ any catapults.
Only the Maritime Nationale’s (French Navy’s) flagship, the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle, also utilizes catapults. However, the French warship and the Nimitz-class are also steam-powered, whereas the Type 003 employs an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) equipped with a linear induction motor. The technology is similar to the system on the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), and it provides smoother acceleration with less stress on the aircraft, while also requiring less maintenance. The same catapults can launch unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and also offer shorter reset times.
This increases the sortie generation rates, meaning more aircraft can be in the sky quicker. However, the technology is so new that there have been teething issues.
What Do We Know About China’s Tests?
Tests of the EMALS on the Type 003 Fujian included “dead load” and aircraft launch trials began in late 2023, and sea trials of the warship began in May 2024. Now that the testing has progressed to Shenyang J-15, there is speculation that the trials could be concluded this fall, with the ship set to be commissioned by the end of the year.
However, there is also the possibility that China is simply presenting another “sizzle” reel to coordinate with the PLA’s recent anniversary.
As Joseph Trevithick at The War Zone reported, there has been no full video showing the J-15Ts launching from the carrier, nor any footage of the aircraft being recovered. “It’s unclear whether the PLAN could have launched a J-15T from Fujian‘s deck with the help of the ship’s catapults,” Trevithick speculated—possibly by “using a jet with a light fuel load [or] otherwise stripped down.”
Even if the tests have been successful, a variety of aircraft will still need to undergo launch trials. That will include heavy fighter jets, medium fighter jets, early warning aircraft, UAS, and even light trainers. It is only after all of those tests are completed that the carrier can be considered operational.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / Tik Tok.
