The highly anticipated Chinese naval vessel, the Fujian carrier, is finally about to undergo its first sea trials.
According to the latest navigation warning issued by the Shanghai Maritime Department, a restricted area for military activities will be established from May 1st to May 9th, prohibiting unrelated vessels from entering the specified waters. According to the coordinates provided by the maritime authorities, the restricted area is located in the nearshore waters of the East China Sea near the exit of the Shanghai Port. It is widely believed that this indicates the Fujian carrier will commence sea trials on May 1st, Labor Day, by departing from the Yangtze River estuary into the waters of the East China Sea. This marks a historic day, signifying a significant step towards the Fujian carrier’s official service.
Reportedly, at 3 p.m. on April 29th, firecrackers resounded at the shipyard pier where the Fujian carrier was located. With the assistance of several tugboats, this massive vessel with a displacement of over 80,000 tons slowly departed from the pier. However, shortly afterward, the Fujian carrier docked again at a nearby pier, causing some confusion among observers. Nevertheless, after just one night, there was no longer any dispute about the Fujian carrier’s upcoming sea trials.
The latest photos show that three special flags have been raised on the bridge of the Fujian aircraft carrier. According to signal flag language, this signifies the notification of the Fujian carrier’s impending sea trials. Prior to the sea trials of the Liaoning and Shandong carriers of the Chinese navy, the same flags were flown. With this, the news of the Fujian carrier’s sea trials is now certain.
Judging from the restricted area designated by the Shanghai Maritime Bureau, the Fujian carrier’s first “outing” will not take it too far. Instead, it will operate in the nearby waters not far from the coastline, which is quite normal. As China’s first truly “super aircraft carrier,” sea trials must be extremely cautious. Operating in nearby waters allows for easier rescue operations in case of any issues during testing. Additionally, countries like the United States and Japan will undoubtedly pay close attention to the Fujian carrier’s first sea trials and may dispatch reconnaissance ships and aircraft to gather intelligence. However, the waters where the Fujian carrier’s sea trials will take place are under the absolute control of the Chinese naval and air forces. The navy will undoubtedly deploy relevant vessels for escort in the vicinity, and naval aviation will also be mobilized, leaving no opportunity for foreign forces to exploit.
Military analysts speculate that during the Fujian carrier’s first sea trials, there won’t be overly complex test subjects. The focus will likely be on testing the carrier’s propulsion system, including its maneuverability at various speeds. Additionally, testing of the carrier’s subsystems will be conducted to identify and address any issues as comprehensively as possible. According to the customary practices of both Chinese and foreign navies, the first sea trials are not expected to last too long. The restricted area’s timeframe provided by the Shanghai Maritime Bureau is nine days, but in reality, it may not take that long. Generally, the trials last between two to five days.
As for more complex tasks such as aircraft takeoff and landing, they will have to wait for future sea trials. In fact, during the mooring trials of the Fujian carrier at the pier, deck scheduling training for carrier-based aircraft has already been conducted. Models of aircraft such as the J-35, J-15, and KJ-600 have appeared on the aircraft carrier deck, indicating that the Chinese navy is working diligently on the Fujian carrier’s sea trials, wasting no time. It is reasonable to believe that the sea trials of the Fujian carrier will be completed in as little as half a year to a year, assuming everything progresses smoothly. If all goes well, it is expected that the sea trials of the Fujian carrier will be successfully concluded by the end of this year.
As the largest surface vessel in China and even across Asia, the significance of the Fujian carrier to the Chinese navy is self-evident. After this, the Asia-Pacific region will soon welcome a “heavyweight contender,” which undoubtedly brings sobering news to those around the region who covet Chinese sovereignty.