How China’s First Supercarrier is Leading the Fleet’s Transition to Electromagnetic Catapult Launches

A recent documentary released by Chinese state media has revealed that China’s first supercarrier the Fujian is now in the final phase before entering operational service, and that it has begun testing its electromagnetic catapult launch system for new aircraft. The documentary provides the first footage of aircraft performing catapult-assisted takeoffs from the warship, with the crew and engineers describing as a significant moment in the development process. Those interviewed stressed that the move from simulated to live catapult launches under real-world sea conditions represented was a major landmark in testing. The two prior Chinese carriers able to accommodate fixed wing aircraft, the Liaoning and Fujian, used ski jump launch systems which limited aircraft to taking off with much lower weights.

Commander Tian Wei, from Fujian’s aviation department, observed in the documentary that work was underway to ensure a seamless transition between ski-jump and catapult launch operations, with the aim of streamlining the conversion process and bringing the new systems to combat readiness as quickly as possible. This may have indicated that pilots and crews with experience on China’s two prior carriers had transitioned to the Fujian. The 85,000 ton carrier will be the first since the Second World War that will be able to challenge the capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s most capable carriers, although it remains uncertain whether further ships of the same design will be built, or whether future Chinese carriers may be larger and use nuclear propulsion systems to achieve longer ranges. The Fujian’s use of a conventional propulsion system is considered more than sufficient for operations across the Pacific, and significantly reduces its operational costs and maintenance needs while raising availability rates.

Built at the Jiangnan Shipyard, the Fujian was launched in June 2022 and began sea trials in May 2024, and was confirmed to have begun its eighth sea trials in early June 2025. These trails were thought to be the first in which aircraft launches using the catapult launch system would be tested. The integration of an electromagnetic catapult system, alongside the Fujian’s sheer size, places the ship in a league of its own alongside U.S. Navy Gerald Ford Class carrier. The first ship of the class, the USS Gerald Ford, began its first operational deployment in October 2022 after years of delays. The system provides significantly greater energy to aircraft as them depart for launch compared to alternative launch systems, allowing much heavier aircraft to take off including fighters with larger fuel and weapons loads, and support aircraft such as the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system.

Although China’s carrier fleet remains second in the world to that of the United States by a very significant margin, with the British, Russian, Indian and French fleets being far more constrained, the discrepancy in capabilities between the Chinese and U.S. fleets is significant. The Chinese fleet is nevertheless expected to benefit from a growing number of advantages, and already fields destroyer escorts that are not only much more modern and capable, but are also years ahead of their American counterparts in integrating hypersonic missiles. China’s J-15B and J-35 fighters and J-15D electronic attack jets deployed from its carriers are also much larger and longer ranged, and may be significantly more capable than their U.S. Navy counterparts the F-18E/F, F-35C and E/A-18G.

China appears poised to lead the United States by several years in fielding the world’s first sixth generation fighter aircraft, and could be over a decade ahead in fielding a sixth generation carrier based fighter due to the deep cuts being made to the U.S. Navy’s program to develop such an aircraft. This appears set to place the Fujian and future Chinese supercarriers at a distinct advantage over their American counterparts.