Over the past few months, China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been periodically conducting various navigation and system tests on its new aircraft carrier, Fujian. These tests are a crucial stage for both the carrier’s future commissioning and for familiarizing the crew with the vessel’s new capabilities. One of these tests involves launching heavier aircraft with greater payloads thanks to its new electromagnetic catapult and recovery system.
Since the Fujian was launched, tests with this new technology, both in port and at sea, have been conducted with great secrecy. Some tests even showed various parts of the flight deck being concealed. However, a recent video released on social media confirms that port tests have been conducted, with loads being launched from the carrier’s flight deck using its electromagnetic catapult systems.
As noted, one of Fujian’s main innovations is its CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration, unlike the STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration with a Sky Jump ramp found on the Liaoning and Shandong carriers. This is due to the inclusion of an electromagnetic catapult system similar to the EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System) used on the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered carriers.
This capability will eventually enable the Fujian to host a powerful Embarked Air Wing featuring the new version of the J-15B carrier-based fighter, the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft, and, at a later stage, the J-35 stealth multirole fighters. This was evident from the presence of several types of mock-ups on the flight deck while the ship was in port. Moreover, recent images show that these mock-ups were also present when the carrier set sail for its fourth sea trial earlier this month.
Although the video is brief, it shows the Fujian underway, followed by footage of a meeting with a background screen. Notably, the video features what appears to be a launch test with “dead load” using two of the carrier’s three electromagnetic catapults.
In broad terms, and as seen in past CATOBAR carrier construction, such tests involve launching a cart that simulates the takeoff weight of a real aircraft, estimated to be around 36 tons. Once the launch is completed, the system is recovered to repeat the test until expected levels are achieved. An example of this is the EMALS catapult tests conducted on the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) last February by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).
According to Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), these tests would have taken place last year during port evaluations of the power generation systems and associated components.
In addition to the electromagnetic launch systems, retractable control stations located in various areas of the flight deck can be seen. These facilities, with a hexagonal structure, are similar to the “bubbles” found on U.S. carriers, and the design observed on the Fujian closely resembles that of the USS Gerald R. Ford.
To date, the necessary maturation, testing, and evaluation of the electromagnetic catapult systems are crucial for the People’s Liberation Army Navy. First, so that the Fujian can soon begin trials of embarked aircraft launch and recovery, aiming for active service and Initial Operational Capability (IOC).
Second, the use of this technology will expedite the production and integration of future carriers following the Fujian in the coming years, as well as other vessels equipped with this capability, such as the new Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship.
Finally, third, these tests are key to developing new versions of carrier-based aircraft compatible with the Fujian’s CATOBAR system. This includes the new J-15 variant (J-15B) and the fifth-generation J-35 carrier-based fighter, which is currently in the prototype flight testing phase.
*Cover images used for illustration.
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