Chinese aircraft carrierFujian
 Model ofFujian
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Type 003Fujian |
| Builders | Jiangnan Shipyard |
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by | Type 002Shandong |
| Succeeded by | Type 004 |
| Planned | 1 |
| Building | 1 |
| History | |
 China | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | Fujianprovince |
| Builder | Jiangnan Shipyard |
| Laid down | March 2015 – February 2016 |
| Launched | 17 June 2022 |
| Motto | (Simplified Chinese:Bất vong sơ tâm, lao ký sử mệnh ): Never forget the original aspiration, remember the founding mission[1][2] |
| Status | Sea trials |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type 003aircraft carrier |
| Displacement | Full load: 80,000–85,000t(79,000–84,000long tons) |
| Length | 316 m (1,036 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 76 m (249 ft 4 in) |
| Propulsion | Steam turbines |
| Aircraft carried | 50+ |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar deck |
Fujian(18;Chinese:Phúc kiến hạm;pinyin:Fújiàn Jiàn), named afterFujian province,is a Chinese aircraft carrier serving in thePeople's Liberation Army Navy.It is the thirdaircraft carrierof theChinese aircraft carrier programmeand the first of theType 003class (NATO/OSDFujian-class CV).[3]It succeeds theType 002Shandongwhich is described as a modifiedKuznetsov-classaircraft carrier. It is China's first indigenously designed carrier,[4]and its first capable ofcatapult-assisted take-offs(CATOBAR); previous Chinese carriers usedski-jumps(STOBAR).[5]
Fujianwas built by theJiangnan Shipyardfor thePeople's Liberation Army Navy(PLAN),launchedon 17 June 2022, and startedsea trialsin May 2024.[6]In 2019, analyst Robert Farley believed thatFujianwould be the "largest and most advanced aircraft carrier ever built outside the United States".[7]
Design
[edit]Size
[edit]The ship is estimated to be 316 m (1,036 ft 9 in) long, 76 m (249 ft 4 in) wide,[8]and have a full loaddisplacementof 80,000 to 85,000 tons.[4]
The size has been compared to theUnited States Navy'sKitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers.[9][10]
Aviation
[edit]Theflight deckhas threeelectromagnetic catapults(EM catapults) and an angled landing area witharresting gear.[6]
Fujian'sair wingis estimated to include at least 40 fixed-wing aircraft and 12 helicopters. Predicted aircraft models include variants of theShenyang J-15fighter, theShenyang FC-31fighter, and theXi'an KJ-600airborne early warning and control(AEW&C) aircraft.[4]
Machinery
[edit]Fujianis powered by conventional steam turbines and diesel generators.[8]According to Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping, the ship has anintegrated power system(IPS).[11]
Development
[edit]
Fujian's class was originally designated by observers as Type 002. At the time, the class of the incompleteShandongwas thought to be Type 001A.Shandongwas officially confirmed as a Type 002 during commissioning in December 2019. After that, observers began referring to the incompleteFujianas Type 003.[12]
The ship was originally intended to usesteam catapults.[12]In 2013, PLANRear AdmiralYin Zhuoreported it would use EM catapults;[13]EM catapults prototypes were observed in 2012.[14]The change to EM catapults likely explains the increase in size from previous Chinese carriers.[12]
Construction began in the mid-2010s.The National Interestreported it began March 2015.[15]The Diplomatreported that "initial work" began in February 2016, withShanghai Jiangnan Shipyard Groupreceiving a notice to proceed in March 2017.[16]Work was reportedly delayed in June 2017 by EM and steam catapult tests.[17]By November 2017, work had resumed after the PLAN reportedly developing an IEP system to power the EM catapults.[18][19][20]The firstprefabricatedblock moduleswere placed into thedry dockin July 2020, and most of thekeeland basehullblocks were in place by early September 2020.[12]Thesuperstructurewas installed by July 2021.[21][22]
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Officially released imagesofFujianduring sea trials, May 2024 (Internet Archive) |
Fujianwas launched on 17 June 2022.[8]Like previous Chinese carriers, it was named for aprovinceaccording to PLAN naming regulations.[23]Western medianoted thatFujian provincewas opposite toTaiwanacross theTaiwan Strait.[24][25][26]Power and mooring tests started in April 2023.[8]Catapult testing started in November 2023.[27]Aircraftmockupswere also used.[28]
Fujianstarted sea trials in May 2024. The first occurred from 1 to 8 May.[29][6]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^"Trung quốc đệ tam hàng mẫu “Phúc kiến hạm” thiểm lượng hạ thủy ".Sing Tao(in Chinese (Taiwan)). 18 June 2022.Retrieved8 June2024.
- ^"Thanh hoa đại học chiến lược dữ an toàn nghiên cứu trung tâm - trung quốc luận đàn".Center for International Security and Strategy Tsinghua University.Retrieved8 June2024.
- ^"China".www.oni.navy.mil.Retrieved17 December2022.
- ^abcAsia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment2023,p. 71.
- ^Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment2023,p. 70.
- ^abcRahmat, Ridzwan (16 May 2024)."Special Report: China gears up third carrier for more enduring operations despite flight deck flaw".Janes.Retrieved25 May2024.
- ^Farley, Robert (10 May 2019)."The Significance of China's Second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier".The Diplomat.Retrieved7 June2019.
- ^abcd"How Advanced Is China's Third Aircraft Carrier?",Center for Strategic and International Studies,retrieved25 May2024
- ^Funaiole, Matthew P.; Jr, Joseph S. Bermudez; Hart, Brian (15 June 2021)."China's Third Aircraft Carrier Takes Shape".CSIS.
- ^Chen, Frank (28 May 2019)."Third PLA carrier could be China's Kitty Hawk".Asia Times.Retrieved7 June2019.
- ^"Phúc kiến hạm tượng trưng quốc sản hàng mẫu thật hiện khóa việt thức phát triển".Hương cảng văn hối báo. 18 June 2022.Retrieved21 June2022.
- ^abcdJoe, Rick (29 September 2020)."003 and More: An Update on China's Aircraft Carriers".The Diplomat.Retrieved31 January2021.
- ^"Chinese aircraft carrier should narrow the gap with its U.S. counterpart".english.peopledaily.com.cn.People's Daily. 18 October 2013.Retrieved18 October2013.
- ^"Giản thị: Trung quốc thí phi cải tiến hình tiêm -15 hoặc dụng vu trắc thí điện từ đạn xạ khí _《 tham khảo tiêu tức 》 quan phương võng trạm".Cankaoxiaoxi.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2016.Retrieved30 June2017.
- ^"China's Next Aircraft Carrier: Everything We Know (So Far)".The National Interest. 31 March 2017.Retrieved29 April2018.
- ^"China Kicks Off Construction of New Supercarrier".The Diplomat. 5 January 2018.Retrieved29 April2018.
- ^"China Explores Electromagnetic Carrier Launch System".AIN online.6 July 2017.
- ^Minnie Chan (1 November 2017)."Breakthrough to power most advanced jet launch system on China's second home-grown aircraft carrier".South China Morning Post.
- ^"China's New Aircraft Carrier to Use Advanced Jet Launch System".The Diplomat.1 November 2017.
- ^Johnson, Reuben F (2 November 2017)."China claims to have developed conventionally powered electromagnetic catapult".Jane's 360.
- ^"China's third aircraft carrier could launch this year but still needs jets".16 July 2021.
- ^Rick Joe (4 August 2021)."A Tale of 2 Navies: India and China's Current Carrier and Escort Procurement".The Diplomat.Retrieved4 August2021.
- ^Newdick, Thomas (17 June 2022)."China Launches The Fujian, Its Most Capable Aircraft Carrier Yet (Updated)".The Drive.
- ^Martin Quin Pollard (18 June 2022)."China launches third aircraft carrier, named after province opposite Taiwan".Reuters.Retrieved18 June2022.
- ^Sinéad Baker (17 June 2022)."China launches its 3rd aircraft carrier, naming it after the province directly facing Taiwan".Business Insider.Retrieved18 June2022.
- ^"China launches new aircraft carrier in bid to catch up with US capability".Financial Times.17 June 2022.Retrieved18 June2022.
- ^Trevithick, Joseph (27 November 2023)."China's New Aircraft Carrier Begins Catapult Testing".The Drive.
- ^Reporter, Aadil Brar China News (3 January 2024)."China releases new images of third aircraft carrier Fujian".Newsweek.Retrieved9 February2024.
- ^Zhao, Ziwen (8 May 2024)."Smooth sailing for China's Fujian aircraft carrier as it finishes first sea trial".South China Morning Post.
Sources
[edit]- Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2023.London: The International Institute for Strategic Studies.ISBN978-1-03-259444-6.
