Video | 2-Second Ejection, "Zero Frame" Emergency Stop! Unveiling the Hidden Combat Power Behind Fujian Ship's Signature Skills

2-second catapult

“Zero-frame” emergency stop

This is not a special effect

But the signature skill of the Fujian ship

(Click the video to experience the shocking moment)

Hidden in the electromagnetic catapult track beneath the deck is a “super strongman” named the mover, which is the core component of the electromagnetic catapult. It connects to the carrier-based aircraft's landing gear, using electromagnetic thrust to instantly accelerate and send the fighter jet into the sky. After the aircraft departs, it also uses electromagnetic braking to recover energy and reset for standby.

Naval Engineering UniversityLu Junyong: Today we see that the time for the carrier-based aircraft to be catapulted into the air is only 2 seconds, but we have held out for this moment for over 20 years. Achieving zero-failure catapults for multiple types of carrier-based aircraft is unprecedented in the history of aircraft carrier catapult technology development.

Overlooking the vast deck of the Fujian ship, this protruding “bubble” is the core command control and interaction area of the electromagnetic catapult.

Fujian Ship Bao Yu: This area is called the catapult integrated control station, which we vividly refer to as the “bubble.” It is a key link in the entire command chain involving the flight deck, carrier-based aircraft, and the catapult system. Here, we mainly complete the preparation of the catapult device and various checks before launch, including parameter input and final launch.

The principle of electromagnetic catapult is quite similar to that of “maglev” trains. Utilizing modern power electronics technology, it converts the ship's electrical energy into mechanical energy for storage, and when launching the aircraft, the energy is transformed into high-frequency pulses, generating an induced magnetic field and induced current, which accelerates the carrier-based aircraft under the action of electromagnetic force, achieving catapult takeoff.

Electromagnetic catapult

Making the “carrier five-piece set” a reality

The core value of the electromagnetic catapult goes far beyond the efficiency of the launch itself. Its hidden combat power lies in completely reconstructing the carrier-based aircraft takeoff and landing system, laying the foundation for the coordinated upgrade of key supporting equipment for the aircraft carrier, and opening up new upgrade space for the aircraft carrier's combat capabilities.

On September 22, 2025, the naval authorities announced that the J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600 carrier-based aircraft had successfully completed their first catapult takeoff and landing training on the Fujian ship.

This is the first time in our country that multiple types of advanced carrier-based aircraft have achieved electromagnetic catapult and arrested landing on a catapult-type aircraft carrier, marking that the Fujian ship has the capability for electromagnetic catapult and recovery.

From the perspective of global aircraft carrier development, a mature aircraft carrier must possess power in air superiority, sea control, early warning, electronic warfare, and anti-submarine capabilities. Military enthusiasts refer to the core carrier-based aircraft system that supports these capabilities as the “carrier five-piece set.”

The “carrier five-piece set” is regarded as the core of modern aircraft carrier combat power, consisting of stealth carrier-based fighter jets, multi-role catapult carrier-based fighter jets, fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft, fixed-wing electronic warfare aircraft, and anti-submarine helicopters. The People's Navy has already equipped the “carrier five-piece set,” initially establishing a core carrier-based aircraft system.

Military expert Zhang Junsha: The electromagnetic catapult system allows carrier-based aircraft to take off with full fuel and full ammunition, “full fuel” means the aircraft has a longer range, a larger combat radius, and longer time in the air; “full ammunition” means the fighter jet has greater strike power. The J-35 can break through enemy air defense networks with its excellent stealth capabilities, while the J-15T can take off with full fuel and full ammunition, relying on its large payload and long range to conduct saturation attacks.

(Source: CCTV Defense Military Channel's “Sword Sharpening” program)