Xi Jinping Commissions China’s First Electromagnetic Catapult Carrier 'Fujian'

China’s President Xi Jinping attended the commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony of the Fujian (Hull 18), the country’s first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, in Sanya, Hainan province, on Wednesday.

Xi, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, boarded the Fujian to inspect the vessel. The ceremony was witnessed by more than 2,000 navy and shipbuilding personnel, with an honor guard in attendance.

The Fujian, launched in June 2022 and named after Fujian province, completed its maiden sea trial in May 2024. It is China’s third aircraft carrier and the first to adopt the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), allowing aircraft to take off with heavier weapon and fuel loads.

During his visit, Xi toured sections of the ship, including the mess hall, and performed a trial activation of the catapult system.

The Fujian features three catapult launch positions and is capable of operating the J-35 stealth fighter, the J-15T heavy fighter, and the KJ-600 early warning aircraft. It is the first Chinese carrier to replace the ski jump-style ramp used on the Liaoning and Shandong.

At 80,000 tons, the Fujian is the largest Chinese warship to date and closely matches the U.S. Navy’s 97,000-ton Nimitz-class carriers in size. However, unlike nuclear-powered U.S. carriers, it runs on conventional fuel.

China’s naval buildup has accelerated under Xi’s leadership, expanding what is now the world’s largest navy by ship count. Western analysts note that while China is producing new vessels at a rapid rate, the U.S. maintains a technological edge, particularly with its nuclear-powered carriers.

China is already working on its next carrier, the Type 004, which is expected to be nuclear-powered and also feature EMALS technology.

In September, the People’s Liberation Army Navy announced that the Fujian had conducted its first catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested landing trials using the J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600 aircraft.