Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian

Not to be confused with the Fujian-class tanker, also given the NATO reporting name Fujian.
Fujian (18)
Model of Fujian
Class overview
NameType 003 Fujian
BuildersJiangnan Shipyard
Operators People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded byType 002 Shandong
Succeeded byType 004
Planned1
Building1
History
China
Name
  • Fujian
  • (Chinese: 福建舰)
NamesakeFujian province
BuilderJiangnan Shipyard
Laid downMarch 2015 – February 2016
Launched17 June 2022
Motto(Simplified Chinese: 不忘初心、牢記使命)：Never forget the original aspiration, remember the founding mission[1][2]
StatusSea trials
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeType 003 aircraft carrier
DisplacementFull load: 80,000–85,000 t (79,000–84,000 long tons)
Length316 m (1,036 ft 9 in)
Beam76 m (249 ft 4 in)
PropulsionSteam turbines
Aircraft carried50+
Aviation facilitiesHangar deck

Fujian (18; Chinese: 福建舰; pinyin: Fújiàn Jiàn), named after Fujian province, is a Chinese aircraft carrier serving in the People's Liberation Army Navy. It is the third aircraft carrier of the Chinese aircraft carrier programme and the first of the Type 003 class (NATO/OSD Fujian-class CV).[3] It succeeds the Type 002 Shandong which is described as a modified Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier. It is China's first indigenously designed carrier,[4] and its first capable of catapult-assisted take-offs (CATOBAR); previous Chinese carriers used ski-jumps (STOBAR).[5]

Fujian was built by the Jiangnan Shipyard for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), launched on 17 June 2022, and started sea trials in May 2024.[6] In 2019, analyst Robert Farley believed that Fujian would be the "largest and most advanced aircraft carrier ever built outside the United States".[7]

Design

Size

The ship is estimated to be 316 m (1,036 ft 9 in) long, 76 m (249 ft 4 in) wide,[8] and have a full load displacement of 80,000 to 85,000 tons.[4]

The size has been compared to the United States Navy's Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers.[9][10]

Aviation

The flight deck has three electromagnetic catapults (EM catapults) and an angled landing area with arresting gear.[6]

Fujian's air wing is estimated to include at least 40 fixed-wing aircraft and 12 helicopters. Predicted aircraft models include variants of the Shenyang J-15 fighter, the Shenyang FC-31 fighter, and the Xi'an KJ-600 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.[4]

Machinery

Fujian is powered by conventional steam turbines and diesel generators.[8] According to Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping, the ship has an integrated power system (IPS).[11]

Development

Fujian at the Jiangnan Shipyard in 2022

Fujian's class was originally designated by observers as Type 002. At the time, the class of the incomplete Shandong was thought to be Type 001A. Shandong was officially confirmed as a Type 002 during commissioning in December 2019. After that, observers began referring to the incomplete Fujian as Type 003.[12]

The ship was originally intended to use steam catapults.[12] In 2013, PLAN Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo reported it would use EM catapults;[13] EM catapults prototypes were observed in 2012.[14] The change to EM catapults likely explains the increase in size from previous Chinese carriers.[12]

Construction began in the mid-2010s. The National Interest reported it began March 2015.[15] The Diplomat reported that "initial work" began in February 2016, with Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard Group receiving a notice to proceed in March 2017.[16] Work was reportedly delayed in June 2017 by EM and steam catapult tests.[17] By November 2017, work had resumed after the PLAN reportedly developing an IEP system to power the EM catapults.[18][19][20] The first prefabricated block modules were placed into the dry dock in July 2020, and most of the keel and base hull blocks were in place by early September 2020.[12] The superstructure was installed by July 2021.[21][22]

External image
image icon Officially released images of Fujian during sea trials, May 2024 (Internet Archive)

Fujian was launched on 17 June 2022.[8] Like previous Chinese carriers, it was named for a province according to PLAN naming regulations.[23] Western media noted that Fujian province was opposite to Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait.[24][25][26] Power and mooring tests started in April 2023.[8] Catapult testing started in November 2023.[27] Aircraft mockups were also used.[28]

Fujian started sea trials in May 2024. The first occurred from 1 to 8 May.[29][6]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ "中國第三航母 「福建艦」閃亮下水". Sing Tao (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 18 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  2. ^ "清华大学战略与安全研究中心-中国论坛". Center for International Security and Strategy Tsinghua University. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  3. ^ "China". www.oni.navy.mil. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2023, p. 71.
  5. ^ Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2023, p. 70.
  6. ^ a b c Rahmat, Ridzwan (16 May 2024). "Special Report: China gears up third carrier for more enduring operations despite flight deck flaw". Janes. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  7. ^ Farley, Robert (10 May 2019). "The Significance of China's Second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier". The Diplomat. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d "How Advanced Is China's Third Aircraft Carrier?", Center for Strategic and International Studies, retrieved 25 May 2024
  9. ^ Funaiole, Matthew P.; Jr, Joseph S. Bermudez; Hart, Brian (15 June 2021). "China's Third Aircraft Carrier Takes Shape". CSIS.
  10. ^ Chen, Frank (28 May 2019). "Third PLA carrier could be China's Kitty Hawk". Asia Times. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  11. ^ "福建艦象徵國產航母實現跨越式發展". 香港文匯報. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d Joe, Rick (29 September 2020). "003 and More: An Update on China's Aircraft Carriers". The Diplomat. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Chinese aircraft carrier should narrow the gap with its U.S. counterpart". english.peopledaily.com.cn. People's Daily. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  14. ^ "简氏:中国试飞改进型歼-15 或用于测试电磁弹射器_《参考消息》官方网站". Cankaoxiaoxi.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  15. ^ "China's Next Aircraft Carrier: Everything We Know (So Far)". The National Interest. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  16. ^ "China Kicks Off Construction of New Supercarrier". The Diplomat. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  17. ^ "China Explores Electromagnetic Carrier Launch System". AIN online. 6 July 2017.
  18. ^ Minnie Chan (1 November 2017). "Breakthrough to power most advanced jet launch system on China's second home-grown aircraft carrier". South China Morning Post.
  19. ^ "China's New Aircraft Carrier to Use Advanced Jet Launch System". The Diplomat. 1 November 2017.
  20. ^ Johnson, Reuben F (2 November 2017). "China claims to have developed conventionally powered electromagnetic catapult". Jane's 360.
  21. ^ "China's third aircraft carrier could launch this year but still needs jets". 16 July 2021.
  22. ^ Rick Joe (4 August 2021). "A Tale of 2 Navies: India and China's Current Carrier and Escort Procurement". The Diplomat. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  23. ^ Newdick, Thomas (17 June 2022). "China Launches The Fujian, Its Most Capable Aircraft Carrier Yet (Updated)". The Drive.
  24. ^ Martin Quin Pollard (18 June 2022). "China launches third aircraft carrier, named after province opposite Taiwan". Reuters. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  25. ^ Sinéad Baker (17 June 2022). "China launches its 3rd aircraft carrier, naming it after the province directly facing Taiwan". Business Insider. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  26. ^ "China launches new aircraft carrier in bid to catch up with US capability". Financial Times. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  27. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (27 November 2023). "China's New Aircraft Carrier Begins Catapult Testing". The Drive.
  28. ^ Reporter, Aadil Brar China News (3 January 2024). "China releases new images of third aircraft carrier Fujian". Newsweek. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  29. ^ Zhao, Ziwen (8 May 2024). "Smooth sailing for China's Fujian aircraft carrier as it finishes first sea trial". South China Morning Post.

Sources