China’s Newest Aircraft Carrier Just Got Some Major Upgrades
The sea trials of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) newest aircraft carrier, the Type 003 Fujian, continue, including flight operations. Chinese state media released a short video of the conventionally powered carrier launching aircraft carrying out the launches of Shenyang J-15T Flying Shark aircraft from the flight deck.
Unlike China’s previous two carriers, the Type 001 Liaoning and Type 002 Shandong, which each employ a ski jump ramp, the Type 003 Fujian is fitted with electromagnetic catapults. A six-and-a-half-minute video was recently presented on the state broadcast China Central TV (CCTV), airing as part of a specially produced Forging Ahead documentary on the history of the People’s Liberation Army—the first of the five episodes aired on August 1 to mark the 98th anniversary of the PLA.
