China’s new Type 003 supercarrier returned last week from its fifth sea trial, which might have also included flight activity as shown by tire marks on the deck and patches for the crew showing a J-15T and KJ-600 on the catapults.
The Fujian, China’s Type 003 carrier that follows the Type 001 Liaoning and Type 002 Shandong, returned to Jiangnan pier near Shanghai on Dec. 3, 2024, after it left on Nov. 18. This is its fifth trial following the one that took place in mid-September, and the longest trial to date.
In previous trials, the Fujian tested the reliability and stability of the aircraft carrier’s propulsion and electrical systems, but it is currently unknown what was tested during the fifth expedition. The aircraft carrier conducted its tests in an unspecified location within the South China Sea.
Based on the tests of previous PLAN carriers, it can be expected that the ship’s full testing will last over a year, beginning from the first tests that took place in May 2023. Interestingly, the Fujian is not the only aircraft carrier currently undergoing testing in China, as recently reported.
Flight Testing aboard the Fujian
So far, there have been no reports of flights being conducted from Fujian. However, patches of the 5th sea trials have been found on the Chinese internet, potentially pointing to test flights’ beginning. The patches feature a J-15T and KJ-600 on the right and left catapults respectively, along with the number “5” symbolizing the fifth trials.
Also in interesting find … According to some rumours, the PLANS-18 Fujian will conduct her 5th sea trial soon, maybe even actually launching aircraft for the first time.
Also nice, the patches of the first four trials.
(Images via @Polis城邦工作室 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/B8hKMnk8SS
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 15, 2024
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Furthermore, pictures of the Fujian returning to Jiangnan pier show rubber markings from tires on the deck. This could be an indicator that real aircraft were indeed involved in November’s trials. However, this does not explicitly mean that aircraft recovered and were then launched off of the ship.
In fact, it could have been just a touch-and-go by one of the aircraft that will equip the carrier in the future, such as the already active J-15T. As the tests proceed further, we can expect to start seeing official photographs or videos, and by that time we would be able to confirm the types involved in the tests.
Specifications of the Fujian
Launched on Jun. 17, 2022, the Fujian is the PLAN’s (People’s Liberation Army Navy) newest carrier, and it is the first to be equipped with a CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off Barrier Arrested Recovery) system, in contrast to the Liaoning and Shandong’s ski-jump-configured deck. This allows for the launch of heavier aircraft compared to the predecessors.
The conventionally powered ship is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system, similarly to the U.S. Navy’s new Ford class carriers and as opposed to the steam powered catapults on the Nimitz class. The vessel has a displacement of 80,000 tons and is China’s first fully indigenous supercarrier, as opposed to Liaoning and Shandong which are repurposed Soviet designs.
As the new carrier enters service, the PLAN is also in the process of upgrading the aircraft that will take to the skies from the Fujian as well. At the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, held from Nov. 12 to 17, the PLAN revealed the new variant of the J-15, named the J-15T, with strengthened landing gears for CATOBAR operations and an AESA radar, as well as the Electronic Warfare variant, the J-15D.
In addition to these, aircrafts such as the J-35 fifth generation medium-sized stealth fighter and the KJ-600 carrier-borne AEW (Airborne Early Warning) aircraft were spotted during test-flights from various factories. Mockups of these have also appeared on the carrier while at sea for its trials.
Besides the fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters like the Z-20J/F (also revealed in Zhuhai) and Z-9 are also expected to be part of the future carrier air wing. Although flight tests on board the carrier have not begun yet, it is likely that the Fujian will start conducting aircraft launch and recovery tests in the very near future.
