The Chinese Navy’s aircraft carrier Fujian (18) has completed its fourth sea trial following its recent arrival at the Jiangnan shipyard facilities. This news was recently reported by open-source intelligence (OSINT), which confirmed the presence of scale models of some aircraft on its flight deck that are expected to form part of its future air wing.
This latest trial of the third aircraft carrier of the PLA Navy began in late August or early September. Unlike previous trials, various sources noted that several mock-ups of aircraft that would be part of its air wing were visible on the Fujian’s flight deck, with the future KJ-600 early warning aircraft being the most prominent.
Although no additional details were obtained regarding the itinerary and activities conducted by the Fujian, it is presumed that, thanks to the presence of full-scale models, the crew practiced operating these aircraft both on the flight deck and in the ship’s internal hangars.
This fourth trial of the Fujian also coincided with a significant milestone for the PLA Navy, as it marked the first time in history that the other two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, were simultaneously navigating at sea. Another noteworthy point is that, during this trial, videos and images of the Fujian’s electromagnetic catapult load-launch tests were publicly shared for the first time, which reportedly took place in port last year.
Lastly, as of now, it is believed that testing will continue as part of the lengthy process leading to the Fujian’s entry into service, with the aim of achieving its initial operational capability, about which the Chinese Navy remains highly reserved, considering the various configurations and technologies that equip this new flagship.
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