Type 003 Fujian

China's first indigenously designed CATOBAR aircraft carrier — conventionally powered but launching fighters and AEW&C aircraft via electromagnetic catapults, marking the PLAN's transition from ski-jump experimentation to blue-water power projection.

Overview

The Type 003 Fujian (pennant number 18) is the People's Liberation Army Navy's third aircraft carrier and the first to employ a catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) configuration. Built at Shanghai's Jiangnan Shipyard, the ship was commissioned on 5 November 2025 Naval News. Its defining technological leap is the installation of an electromagnetic catapult system (EMALS-type), making it the first non-United States carrier to field this capability. The Fujian represents China's progression from the Soviet-derived ski-jump carriers Liaoning and Shandong to a full-deck, catapult-equipped fleet carrier capable of launching heavier, higher-payload aircraft.

🔒 The full Type 003 Fujian file is for BattlePolicy Pro members. Below the line: development history, design and capabilities, variants, the combat record, advantages and limitations, comparable systems, outlook, the full specifications table, our sourcing, and the analyst assessment — procurement, suppliers and the BattlePolicy verdict. Unlock the full file with BattlePolicy Pro →