The buzz surrounding China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has gained fresh momentum with the circulation of new images that seem to show the first-ever coordination between aircraft and the vessel during a recent sea trial.  

These images, which surfaced online, reveal tire marks on the carrier’s deck, which sparked speculation that the Fujian is now engaged in aircraft landing and take-off testing. 

The Fujian, China’s most advanced aircraft carrier to date, has been the subject of global attention ever since its launch. 

The ship represents an important advancement in China’s naval capabilities. It is designed with a cutting-edge electromagnetic catapult system, also known as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). 

When fully operational, this feature will enable Fujian to launch a wider variety of aircraft more efficiently, allowing China to project naval power more effectively. 

The Fujian aircraft carrier began its sea trials earlier this year and completed its fifth trial on December 3. This trial lasted approximately 15 days and took place in the Yellow Sea. These trials are critical to the vessel’s development, as they focus on testing and refining the ship’s systems. 

The fifth trial began in November 2024 and even saw the launch of test vehicles—often referred to as “dead load”—into the sea to simulate aircraft launches from the carrier. These tests help assess the functionality and strength of the catapult system. 

Images that emerged on the Chinese social media platform Weibo also show scale models of China’s latest J-35 stealth fighter and the KJ-600 early warning and control aircraft displayed on the flight deck. 

However, it was only upon Fujian’s return from this trial on December 3 that an image showing tire marks on the carrier’s deck surfaced. 

Military aviation researcher Rupprecht Deino shared the image on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), which gained traction online and sparked discussion and speculation.  

Experts Cautious About Catapult Launch Claims

Many viewed the image as confirmation of the “first take-off” from the Fujian, seeing the event as a crucial milestone in the vessel’s progress. Despite the visible tire tracks, experts have cautioned that these marks do not necessarily indicate a successful aircraft launch.  

Deino himself pointed out that while the image may appear promising, it does not definitively confirm the execution of full-scale catapult trials with actual aircraft. 

He suggested the marks could be from a “touch-and-go” maneuver, where a plane lands on the carrier’s deck and takes off again without stopping.

He said, “I don’t really want to jump the gun here but that sure looks like a jackpot to me. Doesn’t necessarily mean that it has conducted catapult trials with real aircraft though. Could just be a touch-and-go.”

Similarly, Timothy Heath, a senior international defense researcher at the US-based think tank Rand Corporation, said that the marks might also result from “touch-and-go passes by aircraft.”

He expressed doubt that the PLA Navy had successfully conducted catapult launches, noting that if they had, Chinese media would likely have featured footage and extensive coverage of the accomplishment.

Heath acknowledged that while it would take time, the PLA Navy would eventually master the technique for such launches.

Heath’s argument that a milestone such as a successful catapult launch from the Fujian aircraft carrier would have drawn major attention in Chinese media is understandable.

Launching an aircraft from the Fujian’s deck will be a pivotal moment in bringing the ship closer to full operational status. Given the strategic importance of such a potential achievement, Beijing would use it as a powerful symbol to showcase its growing military and technological prowess to the world.

So far, the only carrier to successfully launch aircraft using the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) is the USS Gerald R. Ford. Other countries, including France, India, and possibly the United Kingdom, are also planning to work on deploying EMALS-equipped carriers in the future.  

What sets Fujian apart is China’s decision to bypass steam-powered catapults entirely, opting directly for electromagnetic catapults without having operated a carrier with the older technology. 

This leap underscores China’s intent to fast-track its naval modernization and take the lead in advanced naval technology. 

Meanwhile, Yue Gang, a retired colonel from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), suggested that the tire marks on the flight deck are likely a result of landing tests, in which aircraft land and slide for about 80 meters (263 feet) before being caught by the arrestor wires.

Yue speculated that the first landings on the carrier would likely involve the J-15T and the KJ-600.

Yue further indicated that upcoming trials would focus on testing landings of the J-35B, the naval variant of the J-35, followed by aircraft launches. He added that the tests will be conducted incrementally, assessing performance with various fuel and munitions loads. 

According to Yue, the coming months will be critical as the carrier progresses to tests involving aircraft launches and landings. Once these are completed, the next phase will involve evaluating multi-carrier coordination and communication systems.

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