Two years after its maiden voyage, the Fujian, China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, has completed a rigorous testing phase that signals a new era for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Since its first sea trial on May 1, 2024, the 80,000-ton vessel has spent 117 days at sea over eight distinct trials, significantly outpacing the testing schedule of its predecessor, the Shandong. This accelerated timeline reflects a growing confidence in domestic naval engineering and a strategic urgency to modernize the fleet.
Unlike China’s previous carriers, which utilized "ski-jump" ramps for take-offs, the Fujian is equipped with an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). This technology, previously a hallmark of the United States’ Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, allows for a higher sortie rate and the deployment of heavier, more diverse aircraft. The transition from the older ramp system to electromagnetic catapults represents the single most significant technological leap in the history of China’s carrier program.
The intensive two-year trial period focused on the carrier’s "heart and nerves"—its integrated power system and complex electrical networks. Engineers successfully executed high-stakes tests, including full-ship shock trials and electromagnetic catapult cycles with carrier-borne aircraft. These milestones were essential to prove that the ship’s domestic design could withstand the extreme pressures of modern naval warfare while maintaining a stable power supply for its high-energy launch systems.
The Fujian represents the "coming-of-age" for China's indigenous defense industry, transitioning from modified Soviet designs to entirely domestic, world-class naval architecture. Following its official commissioning in November 2025, the vessel is now transitioning into a phase of full operational integration. This rapid progression underscores Beijing’s commitment to building a blue-water navy capable of projecting power far beyond the First Island Chain and into the broader Indo-Pacific region.