CNS Fujian completes fifth trial voyage

The CNS Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier and the world's biggest non-American carrier, has carried out five sea trials, according to a military spokesman.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said on Friday in Beijing that the sea trials are a routine part of the new carrier's construction project, confirming that the ship has recently concluded its fifth trial voyage.

"In the next stage, the carrier will undergo other tests according to developments in its construction plan," he said, when responding to request for confirmation of the latest sea trial.

As one of the most important pieces of military hardware China is working on, the Fujian was officially unveiled in June 2022 in Shanghai as it was towed out of China State Shipbuilding Corp's Jiangnan Shipyard. According to the PLA Navy, the new vessel had successfully completed its mooring tests and equipment installation process before the first sea trial.

When sailing, the gigantic vessel displaces more than 80,000 metric tons of water. It is now the largest and mightiest warship any Asian nation has ever built.

The ship uses an electromagnetic launch system, or electromagnetic catapult, to launch fixed-wing aircraft. This new system is expected to give the carrier a much greater combat capability than its two predecessors, which use a ramp to launch jets.

The Fujian made its first sea trial in early May. The second trial voyage took place through late May and early June, while the third happened in July and the fourth was done in September.

According to military observers, the Fujian departed from Shanghai on Nov 18 for the fifth sea trial and returned on Dec 3, staying 16 days on the sea.

An insider of China's shipbuilding industry who wished to be anonymous said that carrier-borne aircraft were likely to have been used in the latest trial.

"Pictures taken by onlookers show there were what appeared to be aircraft tire marks on the carrier's flight deck when the vessel sailed back to its shipyard. The only plausible explanation is that aircraft have made landing on it," he said.

Currently, the Navy operates two aircraft carriers — the CNS Liaoning and the CNS Shandong. Both have a standard displacement of around 50,000 tons and a conventional propulsion system, and they use a ski jump method for launching fixed-wing aircraft.

Compared with its two predecessors, the Fujian is much bigger and heavier, and has a larger flight deck and smaller superstructure.