China’s third aircraft carrier, the Type 003 Fujian, has marked a major milestone in its sea trials with the catapult launch of the J-35 stealth fighter, KJ-600 early warning aircraft, and J-15 carrier fighter jet. The demonstration highlights the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) progress toward building a fully modern, blue-water carrier strike capability.
Fujian Showcases Electromagnetic Catapult System
The Fujian, China’s first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, successfully launched multiple aircraft types in recent trials. The J-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter designed for carrier operations, took off smoothly alongside the KJ-600, a new fixed-wing airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. The proven J-15 carrier-based fighter also joined the sequence, underlining the ship’s ability to support a mixed air wing.
Analysts note that the successful catapult launches put the Type 003 Fujian on par with U.S. Navy supercarriers in terms of launch technology, moving beyond the ski-jump systems used on China’s first two carriers, Liaoning and Shandong.
Strategic Impact of the J-35 and KJ-600
The addition of the J-35 expands the PLAN’s naval aviation capability with a stealth platform designed for air superiority, strike missions, and survivability in contested environments. Meanwhile, the KJ-600 AEW aircraft significantly boosts situational awareness by providing long-range detection of air and surface threats – a role previously filled only by helicopters with limited range.
Together with the J-15, these aircraft signal the Fujian’s ability to conduct sustained, high-tempo carrier operations with modern assets.
