NextFin news, China's newest aircraft carrier, the CNS Fujian, demonstrated a major technological milestone on Monday, September 22, 2025, by successfully launching and recovering multiple advanced carrier-based aircraft using its electromagnetic catapult system. The tests took place in the South China Sea as part of the carrier's ongoing sea trials.
The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) confirmed that the Fujian launched the J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter, the J-15T attack jet, and the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft using the carrier's cutting-edge electromagnetic catapult and arresting gear systems. This marks the first time China has publicly demonstrated such capability on an aircraft carrier.
The Fujian, classified as a Type 003 carrier, is the largest and most advanced warship China has built, displacing over 80,000 metric tons. Unlike its predecessors, the Liaoning and Shandong carriers which use ski-jump ramps for aircraft takeoff, the Fujian employs a catapult-assisted takeoff but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) system powered by electromagnetic technology. This system enables the launch of fully fueled and armed aircraft with greater efficiency and payload capacity.
The J-35 stealth fighter, designed by the Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute, is China's first carrier-based stealth jet and was publicly displayed during the Victory Day military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025. The J-15T is an upgraded variant of the J-15 optimized for electromagnetic catapult launches. The KJ-600 is the PLAN's first fixed-wing early warning and control aircraft deployed on carriers, co-developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.
The PLAN stated that the launch and recovery operations verified the reliability and smooth operation of the Fujian's electromagnetic catapult and arresting gear systems with multiple aircraft types. The successful tests indicate the carrier has achieved initial full-deck operational capability, laying the foundation for integrating carrier-based aircraft into China's naval strike groups.
Experts note that electromagnetic catapults offer advantages over traditional steam-powered systems, including greater power, faster preparation times, reduced resource consumption, and the ability to launch heavier aircraft. The Fujian is currently undergoing its ninth sea trial and is expected to be commissioned soon.
The Fujian's deployment and advanced capabilities come amid a regional naval buildup, with neighboring countries like India and Japan also enhancing their carrier aviation forces. The carrier was recently observed sailing through the Taiwan Strait towards the South China Sea for testing purposes.
These developments reflect China's ongoing efforts to modernize its naval forces and expand its power projection capabilities across the Western Pacific and beyond.
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