China Expands Carrier Aviation Capabilities with Electromagnetic Launch Systems

China has formally commissioned its third aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian, marking a significant milestone in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s expansion into carrier aviation. The CNS Fujian features electromagnetic catapults, a technology used by US supercarriers, and is China’s first indigenously designed CATOBAR configuration. The carrier’s air wing includes the Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter and KJ-600 airborne early-warning aircraft. The commissioning ceremony took place on November 5, 2025, at a naval port in Sanya, Hainan, and was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to state news agency Xinhua, the event marked a long-running modernization drive for the country’s navy. The CNS Fujian is estimated to carry 40-60 aircraft and has a full-load displacement of over 80,000 tons, making it China’s largest carrier to date. This development is widely viewed as expanding China’s ability to project power farther from shore in the Western Pacific, including the South China Sea and near Taiwan.