Recently, the well-known U.S. defense analysis site Army Recognition published a lengthy article titled “China’s Fujian Carrier Proves Electromagnetic Catapult Capability, Technology Rivals the U.S. Navy.” Unusually, the piece stepped away from a “Western-centric” view, using data comparisons and technical breakdowns to examine the breakthrough progress of China’s third aircraft carrier.
The article sparked wide discussion in Western defense circles and was seen as a landmark shift in U.S. media recognition of China’s carrier power.
From Showcase to Combat Training
The report highlighted that with Fujian’s first public footage of J-35 stealth fighters, J-15T carrier aircraft, and KJ-600 early warning planes launched via electromagnetic catapult, China’s carrier strike groups have begun demonstrating combat readiness on par with the U.S. Navy—and even post-advantage in some areas.
Army Recognition noted that in the PLA Navy video, Fujian fully displayed the entire sequence of catapult launches, from aircraft nose-wheel attachment to takeoff, with crew operating smoothly. This indicates Fujian has advanced beyond test flights into repeatable, proceduralized combat training, steadily moving toward forming full carrier air wings capable of high-intensity operations.
Electromagnetic Catapult: China’s Shortcut
Though Fujian’s electromagnetic catapults have only recently entered service, the video already showed multiple continuous launches of different aircraft types, executed seamlessly. By contrast, the U.S. Ford-class carriers have long struggled with catapult reliability.
China achieved this by adopting “direct-current supercapacitor” technology, solving reliability issues and allowing rapid system maturity—cracking a challenge the U.S. Navy has wrestled with for over a decade.
As of today, America’s Ford-class still cannot reliably launch the F-35C via electromagnetic catapult, while China’s J-35 has already reached this milestone. This reflects not just speed, but deeper design integration between aircraft and carrier systems.
The KJ-600: A Core Breakthrough
Army Recognition paid special attention to the KJ-600 early warning aircraft, calling its stable takeoff a core breakthrough of modern carrier warfare.
Thanks to its fixed-wing platform, the KJ-600 can extend Fujian’s radar coverage more than threefold, enabling integrated regional air defense and long-range strike capability. In operational concepts, the KJ-600 would fly in rear airspace, fusing multi-source information and overcoming sea clutter and land interference to establish a multi-layered battle network.
Carrier Air Wing Roles
According to the analysis:
- J-35: Stealth fighter to contest air superiority and penetrate radar networks, guiding long-range strikes.
- J-15T: Though non-stealth, it has greater payload, range, and refueling capacity, giving it powerful strike flexibility and logistical advantages for conventional carriers.
Together, they form the backbone of a balanced and flexible carrier air group.
Western Concerns and Limits Highlighted
While praising Fujian’s technical achievements, Army Recognition noted constraints:
- Fujian’s conventional power limits endurance, unlike nuclear-powered U.S. carriers.
- Deck operations, pilot training, and support systems may take years to fully mature, particularly under night operations, harsh weather, and maintenance challenges.
- True joint operations will require Fujian to integrate with escort fleets, anti-submarine systems, and even space-based assets—without exposing its position.
The article concluded that although Fujian has demonstrated formidable progress, these are hurdles before reaching full combat readiness.
Strategic Implications: From “Follower” to “Rule-Maker”
Despite highlighting these gaps, Army Recognition admitted that Fujian’s real-world combat capability reshapes the Western Pacific balance. With fixed-wing AWACS and carrier strike radius covering the Second Island Chain, China’s navy has broken out of shore-based limits into genuine blue-water operations.
This reflects a shift in Western narratives: from dismissive claims like “China’s carriers are useless” or “EM catapults are fake,” to acknowledging technical parity and systemic maturity.
The significance of Fujian lies not just in the ship itself, but in what it symbolizes: China’s navy transitioning from a pursuer to a rule-setter in the maritime domain.
