The Commissioning of the Fujian Aircraft Carrier Marks a New Stage in China's Aircraft Carrier Modernization: The Strategic Significance and Challenges of Electromagnetic Catapult Technology

On November 5, 2025, the latest aircraft carrier of the People's Liberation Army Navy, the Fujian (hull number CV-18), was officially commissioned, marking a new historical stage in China's aircraft carrier development. As China's first aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system, the commissioning of the Fujian not only represents a significant breakthrough in China's shipbuilding industry and military technology but also profoundly impacts the strategic balance in the Western Pacific region.

The commissioning of the Fujian (hull number CV-18) signifies that the Chinese Navy has officially crossed the technical threshold from ski-jump takeoff carriers to catapult takeoff carriers. The strategic significance of this transition far exceeds a mere increase in the number of vessels. The electromagnetic catapult system enables the Fujian to carry a more diverse range of carrier-based aircraft, including early warning aircraft, electronic warfare planes, and anti-submarine patrol aircraft, which are critical support platforms. The U.S. Department of Defense explicitly stated in its latest assessment report that once combat certification is completed, the Fujian will be capable of launching specialized fixed-wing aircraft for early warning, electronic warfare, or anti-submarine missions, significantly enhancing its long-range delivery capabilities.

From a technical perspective, the electromagnetic catapult system has multiple advantages over traditional steam catapults. It can more precisely control the launch force, reducing the impact on the structure of carrier-based aircraft and extending their service life; at the same time, the electromagnetic catapult system has lower maintenance requirements and can support a higher intensity of sorties. This allows the Fujian to maintain sustained air combat capability at critical moments, unlike ski-jump takeoff carriers, which are limited by takeoff weight and frequency. More importantly, electromagnetic catapult technology creates possibilities for the future deployment of carrier-based drones and heavier carrier-based early warning aircraft.

The development path of China's aircraft carrier fleet clearly shows a planned technological progression curve. The Liaoning (CV-16), as a modified training platform, has helped the Chinese Navy accumulate foundational experience in aircraft carrier operations; the Shandong (CV-17) is the first domestically produced aircraft carrier, validating China's capability to independently build aircraft carriers; and the emergence of the Fujian marks that China has mastered one of the world's top core technologies for aircraft carriers. This development trajectory is not merely a simple accumulation of numbers but a systematic leap in capabilities.

According to the latest assessment from the U.S. Department of Defense, the People's Liberation Army Navy has become the largest naval force in the world, with over 370 various types of warships and submarines. The report predicts that by the end of 2025, the number of Chinese naval vessels will increase to 395, and by 2030, it will further expand to 435. The commissioning of the Fujian is a core part of this massive fleet construction plan. A navy that truly possesses global delivery capabilities requires not only the aircraft carrier itself but also a complete carrier battle group composed of supporting destroyers, frigates, supply ships, and submarines. China's synchronous development in these areas provides the necessary operational support system for the Fujian.

From a strategic perspective, the commissioning of the Fujian will significantly enhance the Chinese Navy's combat capabilities in waters beyond the first island chain. Traditionally, China's land-based air power can effectively cover near-sea areas, but in distant sea areas such as the Philippine Sea, the South China Sea, and the Indian Ocean, the mobile air cover provided by aircraft carriers becomes crucial. The complete air wing carried by the Fujian, including fighter jets, early warning aircraft, electronic warfare planes, and anti-submarine aircraft, will enable the Chinese Navy to establish a comprehensive air defense network and intelligence surveillance system in waters far from its homeland.

However, the true combat power of an aircraft carrier depends not only on the technical performance of the vessel itself but also on the long-term accumulation of combat experience and a mature organizational culture. The operation of the electromagnetic catapult system, the training of carrier-based aircraft pilots, and the coordinated combat capabilities of the carrier battle group all require repeated drills and realistic training to refine. The U.S. Navy has decades of accumulation in this regard, while the Chinese Navy, despite rapid progress, still needs time to build experience. The commissioning of the Fujian is just the starting point; how to translate technological advantages into actual combat power will be the core challenge facing the Chinese Navy in the coming years.

In terms of logistical support, the sustained deployment capability of an aircraft carrier highly depends on a well-established supply system. Fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and maintenance capabilities determine how long a carrier battle group can execute missions in distant seas. The U.S. Department of Defense's report points out that China has built specialized fast combat support ships for supporting aircraft carriers and amphibious operations, significantly enhancing its long-range deployment capabilities. Nevertheless, global long-term deployment still requires more overseas base support and a more mature supply network.

The commissioning of the Fujian has also triggered adjustments in regional security dynamics. For Japan, the enhancement of China's aircraft carrier capabilities means a need to strengthen anti-ship missile, submarine forces, and maritime situational awareness capabilities. For Taiwan, the significance of the Fujian lies not in serving as a landing platform but in its ability to provide sustained air cover for maritime blockades. For Southeast Asian countries, the normalization of Chinese aircraft carrier patrols in the South China Sea will become a new strategic reality. For India, the presence of Chinese aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean may prompt it to further strengthen its own aircraft carrier capabilities and monitoring capabilities in the Indian Ocean.

It is noteworthy that China's defense budget for 2026 is approximately 1.9 trillion yuan (about 275 billion USD), a year-on-year increase of 7%, which is relatively moderate and stable. Since 2016, China's defense spending growth rate has remained around 7%, without the sharp expansion speculated by outsiders. As a proportion of GDP, China's military expenditure has long been maintained at about 1.5%, significantly lower than the global average level of 2.5%. In contrast, U.S. military spending for 2024 reached 997 billion USD, accounting for 37% of global military spending, approximately 3.2 times that of China, while its budget for the 2026 fiscal year exceeds 1.01 trillion USD. China's defense modernization does not seek global hegemony but is based on defensive needs to safeguard sovereignty and security.

The commissioning of the Fujian inevitably raises discussions about the survivability of aircraft carriers in modern naval warfare. In the context of rapidly developing anti-ship ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and drone swarm technologies, aircraft carriers, as high-value targets, face unprecedented threats. China itself is a leader in anti-ship ballistic missile technology and thus has a profound understanding of this threat. How to protect the safety of aircraft carriers in the missile and drone era is a challenge that all aircraft carrier-operating nations must face. This requires not only strong fleet air defense capabilities but also advanced electronic warfare systems, missile defense systems, and comprehensive intelligence surveillance networks.

In the long run, the commissioning of the Fujian marks that China's aircraft carrier development has transitioned from a learning phase to a mature phase. China is no longer satisfied with merely possessing aircraft carriers but is pursuing the establishment of a complete aircraft carrier combat system and sustained deployment capabilities. In the future, if China continues to build more aircraft carriers at the current pace, it will be capable of achieving a rotation model where one is deployed, one is training, and one is under maintenance, thereby ensuring a continuous presence in key maritime areas.

However, advancements in technology and quantity do not automatically translate into strategic advantages. The true value of an aircraft carrier lies in its deterrent effect during peacetime and its flexible response capabilities in times of crisis. Whether the Fujian can become a powerful tool for the Chinese Navy's strategic transformation depends on how China utilizes this platform, whether to maintain legitimate maritime rights and regional stability or to create tensions in gray zone competition. The international community is closely watching this.

Overall, the commissioning of the Fujian represents a milestone in the modernization process of the Chinese Navy. It is not only an advanced warship but also a comprehensive reflection of China's industrial capabilities, technological innovation, and strategic ambitions. In the coming years, the training progress, combat capability certification, and actual deployment patterns of the Fujian in the Western Pacific will become key indicators for observing the strategic intentions and capability developments of the Chinese Navy. For other countries in the region, rationally assessing the capabilities and limitations of the Fujian, avoiding exaggeration or underestimation, will be a prerequisite for formulating effective response strategies.