In November 2025, the Fujian aircraft carrier officially entered service with China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Unlike the Liaoning (CV-16) and Shandong (CV-17), which use ski-jump decks, the Fujian (CV-18) is the first PLAN carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system. Because of this technological leap, the Fujian can launch airborne early-warning aircraft and fully armed fighters, marking a new phase for China’s naval aviation capability.
In principle, China’s carrier force needs at least four vessels: one stationed in the Northern Theater Command,
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