Fujian, China’s new aircraft carrier. Image Credit: Chinese Internet.
19FORTYFIVE | Published December 14, 2024
Key Points: China’s Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier, equipped with electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS), is nearing a breakthrough in matching U.S. Navy capabilities.
-Unlike its predecessors, which relied on ski jumps, Fujian marks a leap by skipping steam catapults entirely.
Recent sea trials suggest initial aircraft recoveries may have begun, evidenced by tire marks on the flight deck. While significant testing remains, progress is steady, with Fujian expected to enter service by late 2025, depending on successful EMALS operations.
-If achieved, this would place China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) closer to rivaling the U.S. Navy’s technological edge in carrier operations.
Progress on China’s Fujian Aircraft Carrier Could Reshape Naval Balance by 2025
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is one step closer to matching a key capability of the United States Navy, electromagnetic catapult launches from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Nearly every other true carrier in service apart from the United States Navy employs ski jump ramps to launch aircraft.
The United States Navy’s nuclear-powered Nimitz-class flattops are equipped with steam-powered catapults, while the Gerald R. Ford class was designed to utilize the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) explained “uses stored kinetic energy and solid-state electrical power conversion. This technology permits a high degree of computer control, monitoring and automation.”
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: 19fortyfive.com
Be the first to comment