"Want to Catch Up with the US"... China's 'Ultimate National Pride' Aircraft Carrier [Correspondent Diary]

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[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] When it comes to military weapons that boost national pride, nothing beats an aircraft carrier. China’s third aircraft carrier has been unveiled.

Photo by Global Times capture

On the 17th, the Chinese Navy held the launching and naming ceremony of its third aircraft carrier at the Jiangnan Shipyard of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, attended by Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, among others.

The third aircraft carrier was named the "Fujian" (No. 3). China names its carriers after provincial names. China became a country possessing three aircraft carriers with the Liaoning (No. 1) in 2012 and the Shandong (No. 2) in 2019. The Fujian is expected to be deployed for active service around 2024.

The main focus is naturally on its specifications and performance. Chinese media report that the Fujian has a full load displacement of about 80,000 tons. This corresponds to the size of the U.S. Kitty Hawk-class carriers. While the displacement of the first and second carriers is between 60,000 and 70,000 tons, the third carrier is known to be between 85,000 and 90,000 tons. The Fujian is estimated to be about 315 meters long and 74 meters wide.

The biggest change in the third aircraft carrier is the deck. The Fujian introduces an electromagnetic catapult system instead of the ski-jump method. The catapult is a launch device that instantly accelerates carrier-based aircraft to a takeoff speed of up to 250 km/h. It is also equipped with an arresting gear, a braking device that catches aircraft landing on the carrier. This means the takeoff and landing speeds of carrier-based aircraft have increased, indicating enhanced combat capability.

However, it is difficult to say that Chinese carriers have grown enough to rival U.S. carriers. First, it is not easy for China, which has three carriers, to confront the U.S., which has eleven carriers, at sea. The U.S. overwhelmingly outnumbers China.

Also, unlike Chinese carriers which use diesel propulsion, U.S. carriers operate with nuclear propulsion. All three Chinese carriers use conventional power systems. In terms of operational duration, U.S. carriers are far superior.

Moreover, the performance of carrier-based aircraft deployed on U.S. carriers is generally considered superior. Chinese media predict that the FC-31 (J-35) stealth fighter will be used as a carrier-based aircraft on the Fujian. The J-15T fighter and J-15D electronic warfare fighter are also reported to be deployed on the Fujian. U.S. carrier-based fighters such as the FA-18 Super Hornet have proven their performance through combat experience. In contrast, Chinese carrier-based aircraft like the J-15 have never been deployed in actual combat.

The performance of the airborne early warning aircraft, known as the "eyes" of the carrier, has not yet been confirmed. China has developed the KJ-600 early warning aircraft for carriers and has been operating it since last year. Although the detection range of this early warning aircraft is reported to be 400 to 500 km, its detailed specifications and radar performance have not yet been confirmed.

In terms of numbers and performance, it is still difficult for the Chinese Navy to compete with the U.S. Navy. However, the fact that the Chinese Navy continues to develop and grow is a concern for the U.S. Furthermore, China is reportedly planning to operate a total of ten aircraft carriers, including nuclear-powered ones, by 2049 to match the number of U.S. carriers.

As the number of carriers increases, China’s carrier technology is likely to continue evolving. The general assessment is that China’s maritime combat power will further increase in the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region.

With the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy becoming more concrete, the launch of China’s third aircraft carrier is expected to further intensify the conflict between the U.S. and China.