China's Navy Expands Carrier Aviation Capabilities with CATOBAR Technology

China has formally commissioned its third aircraft carrier, the CNS Fujian, featuring electromagnetic catapults and a CATOBAR configuration. The ship’s air wing includes the Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter and KJ-600 airborne early-warning aircraft. The commissioning ceremony, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, marks a significant milestone in China’s modernization drive for its navy. The carrier’s estimated full-load displacement of over 80,000 tons makes it China’s largest to date, and its deployment is expected to expand the country’s ability to project power in the Western Pacific.