Fujian Ship Achieves Full Combat Capability in 2026: China's Navy Aircraft Carrier Force Enters a New Era of "Three Carriers Shining Together"

On May 9, 2026, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, clearly stated at a regular press conference that the "carrier battle group five-piece set" is an important part of forming the operational capability of carrier strike groups and a significant achievement in the accelerated transformation and construction of the People's Navy. This statement marks the official entry of China's first electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, the Fujian (hull number 18), into a critical phase of generating full combat capability.

The Fujian was officially commissioned on November 5, 2025, at the Yulin Naval Base in Sanya, Hainan, with a hull number of 18. It is the first catapult aircraft carrier designed and built entirely by China, with a full-load displacement of over 80,000 tons, featuring a flat-deck design, three electromagnetic catapults, and arrestor wires. Less than two weeks after its commissioning, on November 18, 2025, the Fujian completed its first live training at sea, with multiple types of carrier-based aircraft, including the J-35 stealth fighter, J-15T multi-role catapult fighter, J-15D electronic warfare aircraft, and KJ-600 fixed-wing early warning aircraft, successfully conducting multiple catapult launches and landings, achieving the goal of "combat capability upon delivery."

The so-called "carrier battle group five-piece set" refers to the core combination of carrier-based aircraft that supports the operational capability of modern carrier strike groups: stealth carrier-based fighter (J-35), multi-role catapult carrier-based fighter (J-15T), fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft (KJ-600), fixed-wing electronic warfare aircraft (J-15D), and anti-submarine helicopters. This system is comparable to the air wing composition of the U.S. Navy's Nimitz and Ford-class carriers, indicating that the Chinese Navy's carrier strike groups have for the first time achieved a complete integrated combat capability in air superiority, maritime control, land strike, reconnaissance and early warning, electronic countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare. Military expert Zhang Junsha pointed out that "the Chinese Navy has equipped the carrier battle group five-piece set, and its integrated combat capability and long-range offensive and defensive capabilities have been further enhanced, marking a significant progress in the transformation of the Chinese Navy from a near-seas defense force to a far-seas defense force."

From a technical perspective, the electromagnetic catapult system (EMALS) on the Fujian represents the most groundbreaking technological leap in the history of Chinese aircraft carrier development. Compared to the ski-jump takeoff method used by the Liaoning and Shandong, the electromagnetic catapult allows carrier-based aircraft to take off under greater load conditions, including fully loaded heavy fighters, fixed-wing early warning aircraft, and electronic warfare aircraft. According to reports from China Central Television's military channel, the J-15T catapult fighter is equipped with a dedicated launch bar that can directly hook onto the deck's electromagnetic catapult, instantly accelerating the several-ton aircraft from a standstill to hundreds of kilometers per hour. Military analysts have noted that due to improvements in aircraft design and takeoff methods, the comprehensive combat capability of one J-15T is equivalent to that of two basic J-15s.

Satellite images from April 5, 2026, show the Fujian conducting formation training in the Bohai Sea near Qinhuangdao, accompanied by at least one escort vessel. This indicates that the Fujian is transitioning from single-ship training to coordinated operations in formation, laying the groundwork for its deployment in distant seas within 2026. Chinese military commentator Wei Dongxu emphasized that true comprehensive combat capability can only be achieved when the aircraft carrier is equipped with a complete configuration of carrier-based aircraft, capable of simultaneous takeoff and landing operations under full deck conditions, and serving as the core of a complete carrier strike group executing missions in distant seas.

Meanwhile, what has drawn more attention from the outside world is the construction progress of China's fourth aircraft carrier, the Type 004. According to assessments from Jane's Defence Weekly and the U.S. Department of Defense's 2025 "China Military Power Report," the Type 004 carrier is being built at the Dalian Shipyard and is expected to become China's first nuclear-powered supercarrier, with a displacement of 110,000 to 120,000 tons, surpassing the U.S. Navy's Ford-class (approximately 100,000 tons) and capable of carrying over 100 various types of carrier-based aircraft. In a promotional video for the Chinese Navy's anniversary in April 2026, three officers' names corresponded to the Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian, while the fourth officer was named "He Ship," which is a homophone for "nuclear ship" in Mandarin, widely interpreted as a hint towards a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

The U.S. Department of Defense report indicates that China's goal for aircraft carrier development is to have nine carriers by 2035, with an average of one carrier built every 20 months. Currently, China has three aircraft carriers: the Liaoning (Type 001), Shandong (Type 002), and Fujian (Type 003). The Liaoning can carry about 24 J-15 fighters, the Shandong about 32, while the Fujian can accommodate 50 to 60 various types of carrier-based aircraft. If the Type 004 nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is commissioned as planned around 2030, China will become the third country, after the United States and France, to possess a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

The rapid expansion of China's aircraft carrier capabilities is causing profound changes in the naval power dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region. In May 2026, the U.S. Navy announced the "450 Ship Plan," aiming to expand its fleet from the current 395 ships to 450 by 2031, including 299 combat vessels, 68 auxiliary vessels, and 83 unmanned maritime systems. This plan explicitly identifies the Chinese Navy as the primary strategic challenge, with significant investments in Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (over $62 billion in five years), Virginia-class attack submarines (procurement of 10 submarines over ten years, approximately $63 billion), as well as new-generation DDG(X) destroyers and nuclear-powered battleships (BBGN).

In terms of funding support, China's defense budget for 2026 reached 1.91 trillion yuan (approximately $262 billion), a year-on-year increase of 7%. This marks the 28th consecutive year of growth in China's defense budget, and despite a slowdown in economic growth, military modernization remains a national strategic priority. The U.S. defense think tank "Foundation for Defense of Democracies" (FDD) analyzed that this budget increase sends a clear signal: even in the face of economic downturn pressures, Beijing will steadfastly advance its military modernization process.

In the realm of regional security cooperation, in mid to late May 2026, the China-Thailand "Assault-2026" joint army training will be held in Thailand, focusing on mountain warfare. This is a continuation of the regular joint training mechanism between the Chinese and Thai armies and an important part of China's deepening defense cooperation within the ASEAN framework. Additionally, a certain air defense brigade of the 76th Group Army recently completed a multi-factor, multi-type live-fire shooting assessment at a training ground at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, demonstrating the army's achievements in building air defense and missile defense capabilities in high-altitude mountainous environments.

From a strategic perspective, the full combat capability of the Fujian in 2026 and the construction of China's fourth nuclear-powered aircraft carrier signify that the Chinese Navy is undergoing a fundamental transformation from an "existence fleet" to a "power projection navy." The core support for this transformation lies in a complete industrial system, continuously increasing defense investment, and systematic technological breakthroughs. As key technologies such as electromagnetic catapults, stealth carrier-based aircraft, fixed-wing early warning aircraft, and nuclear propulsion are successively conquered, the Chinese Navy is getting closer to the true goal of a "blue-water navy." For the regional security landscape, a Chinese Navy with multiple carrier strike groups capable of sustained deployment beyond the first island chain will fundamentally rewrite the maritime power balance in the Western Pacific and even the Indian Ocean, which warrants serious attention and in-depth analysis from all Indo-Pacific countries.