Sooner than expected, the third aircraft carrier of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) may be close to officially entering active service. Within the framework of the 80th anniversary celebrations of Victory Day, the latest video released by the state agency CCTV could suggest that the flagship known as Fujian (CV-18) may be unveiled on dates tied to upcoming wartime anniversaries of the Asian Giant.
The domestically built 80,000-ton aircraft carrier, the most modern of the three currently in service with the Chinese Navy, was launched in 2022 and since then has completed eight sea trials since its maiden voyage in May 2024. Beyond surpassing its predecessors Liaoning (CV-16) and Shandong (CV-17) in size, the Fujian is equipped with a system of three electromagnetic catapults (CATOBAR), giving it a technological leap with the ability to launch and recover aircraft such as fighters, early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, and drones.
In detail, the video released by the state agency shows the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai, where the carrier was built and launched, before moving on to footage of the Fujian at sea. According to analysts, the CV-18 could be officially presented on September 3 or the 18th of the same month, both representative anniversary dates. “In August 2025, China’s first aircraft carrier equipped with catapults, designed and built entirely at home, is preparing for its official entry into service. Eighty-eight years ago, the flagship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Izumo, prowled those same waters,” the video notes.
On the other hand, there are concrete elements that show progress with the modern Chinese Navy carrier. If its official presentation does take place in the coming weeks, the schedule would be ahead of the initially planned date for the end of the year. Moreover, the Asian Giant has taken other important steps toward commissioning: integration with the new carrier-based J-15T fighters and the catapult systems. This milestone, revealed in images circulating in Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) in July, marked the validation of the Fujian’s operational capabilities with the new carrier variant of the J-15A.
Finally, another event that drew analysts’ attention was the presentation of the new carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft Xian KJ-600. Intended to operate from the Type 003, it was observed flying in formation in preparation for the upcoming Victory Day. Since its first appearance, with the confirmation of its initial test flights in September 2020, the aircraft has been intended to take advantage of the new electromagnetic launch systems on the Fujian, becoming the “eyes of the fleet” and providing invaluable detection and early warning capabilities.
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