Launched in 2022, the Fujian carrier is about to set sail for sea trials after only about a year, a speed that undoubtedly will still leave many Chinese netizens, who are accustomed to China’s pace but unaware of the technology, unsatisfied. Little do they know, the latest generation of American Ford-class aircraft carriers took a whopping five years from launching to sea trials.
The Fujian carrier, from any angle, represents a landmark in the development of the Chinese Navy. Its commissioning marks a leap for the Chinese Navy from quantity to quality, pushing the equipment level of the Chinese Navy to a world-class standard and heralding its formal entry into the ranks of the world’s leading navies.
Speaking of aircraft carriers, China already have the Liaoning and Shandong carriers, both of which have formed complete combat capabilities and constitute the world’s second-most powerful maritime strategic deterrence and strike group after the United States. Why, then, is the Fujian carrier, as China’s third aircraft carrier, receiving such high praise?
This is mainly assessed from the tonnage, technological level, and overall combat capability of the aircraft carrier itself. The displacement of the Fujian carrier exceeds 80,000 tons, second only to the American Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers globally. However, in terms of appearance and deck area, it is almost on par with the Ford-class. Some foreign media, after conducting proportional analysis using satellite images, believe that the difference is now minimal.
However, the Fujian carrier incorporates many of the most advanced technologies and design concepts, surpassing even the most advanced American Ford-class. Firstly, there is the well-known electromagnetic catapult system. The Fujian carrier employs the world’s most advanced medium-voltage direct current power system, leading the United States by a full decade in terms of the adjustability of electromagnetic catapult kinetic energy output, the continuity of catapult operations, and the stability of performance.
The fact that the Ford-class carriers of the United States have yet to achieve full combat capability is attributed to this medium-voltage alternating current power system. The installation and outfitting of the second Ford-class carrier, the “Kennedy,” have taken up to five years, and the workshop for the electromagnetic catapult system has yet to be dismantled, indicating that many problems with this system remain unresolved.
Secondly, there is the radar system of the Fujian carrier. It is said to be the military ship with the most active phased array radar systems in the world today, specifically equipped with 32 variously functional AESA radars. In addition to the densely packed large-scale long-range air, surface, and fire control radars on the island, even the radars of the close-in weapon systems are phased array, perhaps making the U.S. military feel inferior.
Thirdly, the Fujian carrier possesses the strongest close-in anti-saturation attack capability among all active aircraft carriers globally. It has specifically equipped active phased array detection radars for close-in sea-air “blind spots,” with multiple sets of 11.3 million rounds of guns and Red Flag-10 short-range air defense launchers covering the carrier’s surroundings. Multiple multifunctional launchers installed on the port and starboard sides are used to create a barrage and electromagnetic barriers.
Considering the energy consumption of the Fujian carrier with its three electromagnetic catapults and the combination of 32 active phased array radars, in addition to advanced power and energy storage systems, I believe the Fujian carrier is highly likely to adopt a hybrid power system.
That is, the carrier’s power system uses conventional power, while the carrier’s power storage system may be equipped with a small nuclear reactor specifically for powering the electromagnetic catapult system. Because China’s 041-class 1,000-ton submarines have already adopted small nuclear reactors, there is sufficient space for the installation of small nuclear reactor subsystems on large 80,000-ton carriers. This provides a reasonable explanation for the question of how a conventional-powered aircraft carrier can accommodate such a large-scale energy consumption.
Of course, whether there are any unconventional “black technologies” remains to be officially revealed.
In addition to a first-class aircraft carrier platform, the shipborne weapon system is the key to the combat capability of an aircraft carrier. And with the Fujian carrier, the combat capability of the Chinese Navy’s aircraft carriers has been elevated to the top tier globally.
With the support of advanced electromagnetic catapult technology, China’s aircraft carriers can finally achieve a full complement of shipborne fighter aircraft. In addition to the familiar J-15 heavy carrier-based fighter aircraft, the Fujian carrier will also carry crucial new types such as the KJ-600 shipborne fixed-wing early warning aircraft, the J-35 twin-engine medium-sized stealth fighter aircraft, as well as various types of shipborne unmanned combat aircraft including the Gongji-11 and Wing Loong-2.
Looking globally, apart from the Ford-class carriers of the U.S. Navy, which can match this level of configuration, it’s hard to find a second. Traditional naval powers in Europe such as the UK and France now rank in the second tier compared to the combat capabilities of Chinese and American aircraft carriers.
Regarding the combat capability of aircraft carriers, another important indicator is the carrier strike group. Just like the surprise brought by the Fujian carrier, the main surface ships of the Chinese Navy’s carrier strike group have also entered the ranks of the world’s leading naval forces. The Type 055 10,000-ton destroyer has become the benchmark for the development of a new generation of ocean-going cruisers globally, and has “helped” several naval powers including the United States to revise the direction of the design of the next generation of cruisers. The radar and shipborne weapon systems of Type 055 have also reached a level capable of “destroying countries.”
Type 052D, as a general-purpose destroyer of the Chinese ocean-going navy, is known for its advanced performance, cost-effectiveness, and large quantity, serving as the backbone of the entire strike group. The new generation of Type 054B frigates tailored for the carrier strike group has also been launched one after another recently, mainly upgrading the shipborne radar system to be smaller and more shielded, while increasing tonnage to enhance ocean-going seakeeping and seaworthiness.
If one still talks about shortcomings, there is a certain gap between China’s active strategic missile nuclear submarines and attack-type nuclear submarines compared to Western countries. When the Chinese military’s next-generation nuclear submarines, which have not yet been officially announced, are officially commissioned, China’s carrier strike groups will be more than capable of traversing any hotspot area globally, giving any potential targets careful consideration.
The appearance and tonnage of the French new generation, which are somewhat similar to the Fujian carrier, are scheduled to be launched in 2035, 11 years later than the Fujian carrier.