In recent hours, viral images on social media confirmed the return to port of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carrier Fujian (CV-18), following 25 days at sea as part of its third sea trial aimed at preparing the vessel and its crew to achieve operational status.
On July 6, the Fujian, the third aircraft carrier of the Chinese naval force and the second domestically built, began its sea trial after having undergone successive evaluations in recent months since its launch in 2022.
According to the released images, the aircraft carrier was recently seen accompanied by tugboats entering the Yangtze River channel, which appears to be its return to its original shipyard, Jiangnan.
The Chinese capital ship will likely continue extensive port trials, such as evaluating its propulsion and power generation systems, which support the various sensors and equipment onboard. The Fujian has already completed long sea trials, bringing it closer to testing with its Carrier Air Wing.
Additionally, it is important to highlight the use of new technologies for the first time in Chinese military vessels, such as the new electromagnetic catapults, similar to the EMALS used on the U.S. Navy’s Gerald Ford-class carriers. Previously, Chinese aircraft carriers were equipped with the Sky Jump system for launching their embarked aircraft, which significantly limited the aircraft’s payload.
Another notable feature of the Fujian is its displacement of 80,000 tons and a length of about 316 meters. While there are no precise details on how many aircraft the vessel can carry, the 2023 Defense White Paper published by the Japanese Ministry of Defense in July 2023 mentioned that the Fujian can accommodate between 60 and 70 aircraft, including J-15 fighters and KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft, among others.
In contrast, the Liaoning, a refurbished Ukrainian carrier that became China’s first aircraft carrier, has a full-load displacement of 58,500 tons and a length of about 305 meters. Meanwhile, the Shandong, China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, has a full-load displacement of 66,000 tons and a length of 315 meters.
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