Fujian is a Chinese conventionally powered aircraft carrier serving in the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It is the third carrier of the Chinese aircraft carrier programme and the first of the Type 003 class, succeeding the Type 002 Shandong. It is China's first indigenously designed carrier, and its first capable of catapult-assisted take-offs (CATOBAR); previous Chinese carriers used ski-jumps (STOBAR).
It is the second carrier in the world to have electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) for launching carrier-based aircraft. The EMALS of Fujian is powered by a Medium-Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) integrated power system—the first of its kind for an aircraft carrier, stated to be more reliable compared to the AC-based EMALS of the Gerald R.
Ford class. It is also the first aircraft carrier in the world to launch a fifth-generation fighter using the electromagnetic catapult system.
Foto: Wikimedia Commons · Wikipedia
- 50+ aircraft:
- Fixed-wing:
- Shenyang J-35 carrier-based stealth multirole fighter
- Shenyang J-15T/DT carrier-based multirole fighter
- Xi'an KJ-600 carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) and cargo aircraft
- Helicopters:
- Harbin Z-20 family helicopters
Foto: Wikimedia Commons (US Navy / Royal Navy OGL)