China's state-owned national broadcaster CCTV has announced that the nation's most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, will be able to conduct 'deck load strikes' once commissioned. This is a type of swarm attack in which a large number of aircraft can be launched simultaneously.

The tactic, widely employed by the US Navy during the Vietnam War, is touted to enable the Chinese Navy to gain a 'first mover' advantage during battle. It had been previously speculated that Fujian would be equipped with the capability, but this is the first time it has been publicly confirmed.

"China's aircraft carrier technology is marking a historic leap as it enters the critical phase of combat capability development," CCTV explained in its report. The broadcaster added that the domestically produced carrier has been "progressing steadily" since its first sea trial in May last year.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the carrier will soon join the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), bringing the fleet's carrier strength up to three. The Fujian is expected to be operational by the end of 2025, joining China's other carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong.

Fujian equipped with electromagnetic launch system

"The PLAN equipped with three aircraft carriers, will greatly enhance its sea escort and defence capabilities," CCTV observed. "Compared to traditional aircraft carriers with ski-jump flight decks, the electromagnetic launch system of the Fujian can greatly improve the efficiency of carrier-based aircraft deployment," it added.

It's just this technology that forms the foundation of the claimed 'deck load strikes' of the carrier. It will enable the rapid deployment of multiple aircraft over a short span of time. "Launching a swarm attack could overwhelm the enemy, securing the first-mover advantage of early detection and pre-emptive attacks," CCTV explained.

According to military analyst Cao Weidong, conducting such a launch would test all of the ship's systems and crew. However, he noted that if the crew could perform up to the standard seen in training, "the carrier's full potential could be realized."

"Sortieing as many aircraft as possible in the first wave of attack to destroy, suppress and deter enemy targets enables the carrier to secure air superiority, establish maritime dominance or support landing operations," Cao told CCTV.

To mimic US 'Alpha Strikes' from Vietnam War

"In warfare, this allows the carrier to achieve first detection, first strike in the initial attack, inflicting significant damage and securing a strategic advantage," he continued.

If a mix of aircraft could be launched, the carrier could also be capable of conducting something called 'Alpha Strikes'. While total number of aircraft vary, such attacks typically involve getting around half of all aircraft onboard airborne in short order.

During such operations, the carrier will tend to remain heading into the wind and at General Quarters—an announcement made aboard a naval warship to signal that all hands must go to battle stations—ready to recover aircraft returning from sorties or damaged during battle.

According to the late US Admiral James Holloway—commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet during the Vietnam War—Alpha Strikes were deployed by the US for the very first time "for the shock effect or because of the necessity to penetrate very heavy defenses."

"On an Alpha Strike, all available aircraft on the carrier were organized into a single strike group," Admiral Holloway said when discussing naval history at a conference in 1991.