The Fujian Aircraft Carrier Completes Electromagnetic Catapult Launch of Three Types of Carrier-Based Aircraft by 2026, Allowing the PLA Navy's Aircraft Carriers to Enter the Combined Verification Phase

On May 18, what caught my attention was not "the Fujian aircraft carrier has new footage," but rather the combination of three types of aircraft in the footage. The South China Morning Post cited CCTV footage stating that the Fujian aircraft carrier has completed the electromagnetic catapult launch demonstrations of the J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600. Looking at any one of these aircraft individually could easily be written off as equipment news; only when viewed together do they represent a significant milestone that the PLA Navy's carrier aviation has truly crossed.

What Does the Simultaneous Appearance of Three Types of Aircraft Indicate?

The image above is a reference image of the J-15T carrier-based aircraft, not from this catapult launch of the Fujian aircraft carrier. It is suitable for illustrating the issue because the J-15T itself is a variant that transitions from the ski-jump carrier era to the catapult carrier era. Public information shows that the Fujian aircraft carrier has a full-load displacement of over 72,500 tons and is equipped with three electromagnetic catapults, making it the second aircraft carrier after the U.S. Ford-class to adopt this technology. CCTV's inclusion of the J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600 in the same narrative indicates that the focus of testing is no longer just "can it be launched," but whether aircraft of different weights, aerodynamic layouts, and missions can utilize the catapult system in accordance with the rhythm of a carrier-based aircraft group.

In simple terms, the J-15T addresses heavy strike and transition training, the J-35 addresses stealth penetration and air superiority, and the KJ-600 addresses fleet long-range detection and air situation command. The shortcomings of the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers were not due to a lack of fighter jets, but rather that ski-jump takeoff limited the deployment of early warning aircraft and heavy payloads. The value of the Fujian aircraft carrier lies precisely in lifting this ceiling.

The J-35's Deployment on the Carrier is Not Just a Single Aircraft Breakthrough

Another report from the South China Morning Post mentioned that the J-35 is the second carrier-based stealth fighter after the U.S. F-35 series and stated that this test marks the aircraft's first launch from an aircraft carrier. This statement needs to be understood with caution: public reports did not provide a test date, nor did they clarify whether complete recovery, night launches, complex sea conditions, and high-intensity deck operations have all been validated. I believe it is still too early to write it off as "achieving combat capability."

However, from an engineering perspective, the significance of the J-35's deployment on the carrier is not small. A stealth carrier-based aircraft is not simply a land-based fifth-generation aircraft with a reinforced landing gear; it involves low-speed maneuverability, wing folding, corrosion resistance, catapult stress, landing impact, and onboard maintenance space. If the J-35 has already entered the catapult phase on the carrier, it indicates that a set of repeatable interfaces has at least been established between Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the carrier-based aircraft training system, and the overall assembly and testing of the Fujian aircraft carrier. This interface is more important than a single successful takeoff.

The KJ-600 is the Variable That is Easily Underestimated

Outsiders often focus on the J-35 because stealth fighters are more newsworthy. However, what may truly change the operational radius of the aircraft carrier is the KJ-600. A fixed-wing early warning aircraft can extend the fleet's aerial situation further out and allow the J-35 and J-15T to conduct strikes without relying entirely on carrier-based radar and land-based systems. A significant portion of the advantages that U.S. aircraft carriers have developed over the years comes from the E-2 series of early warning aircraft, rather than solely from the performance of carrier-based fighter jets.

This is also why I remain cautiously optimistic about the progress of the Fujian aircraft carrier. Successful catapult launches are just the first layer; the next layer involves the cycle of launch and recovery, and the layer after that includes the operation of carrier-based early warning aircraft, stealth aircraft, electronic warfare, anti-submarine helicopters, and the supply chain working together. Chinese shipyards can build a 70,000-ton platform, and the aviation industry can push three types of aircraft onto the deck, but the naval aviation must still prove that it can use them sustainably, frequently, and with a low accident rate.

The Impact on the Western Pacific is Not an Immediate Turnaround

The South China Morning Post quoted analysts who believe this indicates that China's military influence in the Western Pacific is rising. This judgment is generally correct, but it can easily be overstated. Even if the Fujian aircraft carrier is commissioned, it will not immediately equate to a mature U.S. carrier strike group. The U.S. Navy's issues lie in maintenance cycles and shipbuilding capacity, while the Chinese Navy's challenges include experience with long-range aviation, the reliability of carrier-based aircraft engines, deck organization efficiency, and comprehensive logistics.

However, the Fujian aircraft carrier provides the PLA with a training platform that it has not had in the past. As long as the J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600 can continue to be deployed on the carrier, real changes will occur in the training data over the next two to three years: how many sorties can be launched in a day, how long can the early warning aircraft maintain airborne alert, and what are the maintenance hours for stealth aircraft in a maritime salt spray environment. These numbers will not appear in promotional videos, but they will determine whether the Fujian aircraft carrier is merely a demonstration platform or a combat aircraft carrier capable of changing the air-sea balance outside the first island chain.

Currently, public information lacks complete test dates, recovery data, and sustained sortie counts. What is truly worth questioning is: during the next public display of the Fujian aircraft carrier, will it showcase the continuous launch and recovery of the J-35 and KJ-600, rather than a single catapult launch?