Chinese Aircraft Carriers - Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian and the future

[Hendarto]

Meanwhile .....Japan's Ministry of Defense confirmed the movements of 2 Chinese aircraft carriers strike groups comprising of Liaoning (red color line) & Shandong (blue color line) around Japanese waters from 8 -16 June 2025.

Liaoning breach the Second Island China on 7 June 2025 when it came between Guam and Minami-Tori-shima islands, while Shandong was operating between the Okinorishima and Guam islands.

So basically, now US naval bases in Guam and Tinian (N Mariana Islands) are sandwiched between 2 Chinese aircraft carrier strike groups on 6 & 7 June 2025- making them vulnerable to being surrounded and destroyed in an actual war.

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[Beijingwalker]

China about to enter three-aircraft-carrier era as Fujian expected to enter service in 2025: official media
By Liu Xuanzun
Published: Jun 17, 2025 02:56 PM

An aerial drone photo taken on May 7, 2024 shows China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, during its maiden sea trials. China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, completed maiden sea trials on Wednesday.(Photo: Xinhua)

Tuesday marks the third anniversary of the launch of the Fujian, China's first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults. Official media said China is about to enter a three-aircraft-carrier era, with the Fujian expected to enter service by 2025.

After the launch of the Fujian on June 17, 2022, it carried out its first sea trial from May 1 to 8 in 2024. Since then, the Fujian has completed multiple sea trials, accumulating more than 100 days of sea trial, China Central Television (CCTV) News reported on Tuesday.

Wei Dongxu, a Chinese military affairs commentator, said that the aircraft carrier Fujian has been making steady progress in sea trials, and is expected to be commissioned within this year, CCTV News reported.

With a full displacement of more than 80,000 tons, the Fujian is the world's first conventionally powered aircraft carrier to feature electromagnetic catapult technologies, according to CCTV News. The report noted that it will carry a wide variety of carrier-borne aircraft, including fighter jets, early warning aircraft, anti-submarine aircraft and drones.

The Fujian is China's third aircraft carrier. In September 2012, China commissioned its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. The Shandong, China's second aircraft carrier and first domestically built, entered service in December 2019. Both the Liaoning and the Shandong utilize ski-jump ramps rather than catapults to assist aircraft takeoff.

Fu Qianshao, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that since the Fujian uses advanced technologies such as electromagnetic catapults and is equipped with new aircraft such as the J-35 stealth fighter jet, may require longer testing periods than the Liaoning and Shandong. "But I personally think it is very likely that the Fujian will enter service in 2025," Fu said.

China's growing number of aircraft carriers, along with their increasingly advanced capabilities, contributes to peace and stability, Wei said.

Unlike the US-led Western naval system, which operates through a "gang-up" approach, using military alliances to form joint maritime forces for blockades and intimidation in regions like the Western Pacific, China's strengthening carrier force provides crucial strategic balance. It enhances self-defense capabilities while fostering greater peace, Wei said.

China about to enter three-aircraft-carrier era as Fujian expected to enter service in 2025: official media - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

 

[Beijingwalker]

China’s Fujian carrier developing ‘Alpha strike’ swarm attack power: CCTV​

Aircraft carrier expected to carry out deck load strikes, which can help Chinese navy gain first-mover advantage, state broadcaster says​

Holly Chik
Published: 6:00pm, 21 Jun 2025Updated: 8:03pm, 21 Jun 2025

China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is expected to be able to carry out “deck load strikes”, a type of swarm attack that could help the country’s navy gain a first-mover advantage in combat, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

A deck load strike refers to the ability to rapidly launch a large number of aircraft at once. This tactic was used by the US Navy during the Vietnam war for shock effect.

While military experts had speculated that the Fujian would be able to carry out these attacks, the state media report on Saturday was the first to highlight the ability.

“China’s aircraft carrier technology is marking a historic leap as it enters the critical phase of combat capability development,” CCTV reported.

It added the home-grown aircraft carrier had been “progressing steadily” in sea trials since the first test in May of last year and would “soon form a three-carrier fleet” for the Chinese navy.

The Fujian is expected to be commissioned by the end of the year, according to a CCTV report in May, joining two active carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong.

China’s Fujian carrier developing ‘Alpha strike’ swarm attack power: CCTV

Aircraft carrier expected to carry out deck load strikes, which can help Chinese navy gain first-mover advantage, state broadcaster says.

www.scmp.com

 

[神威98]

Why I think CV 18 Fujian is China's first and last conventionally powered CV

1. Don't be like the 2-D being in Three Body where you witness a bullet hole every few feet and conclude the next one is a few feet away. China only built the Shandong like the Liaoning becoz she never built a carrier before and it was logical to imitate the Liaoning as her first domestic carrier. Why would China need to build another Fujian? She already mastered all the relevant technical skills to build something much better.

2. When mass produced the Type 076 can be "assembled" to get as much EM launch tracks as you need. Need the fire power of 1.5 carriers but sending out 2 CVs would actually be a waste? Then send out 3 Type 076 instead! The Type 076 is also cheap and fast to make. And when China has built up enough CVNs, the Type 076 can go back to their roles as dedicated UCAV carriers, instead of being stuck with another CV (after the Fujian) that China didn't really want.

3. China's warfare doctrine had always been about having the maximum possible range. You can only deploy a CV in your own backyard, but a CVN can be deployed anywhere even close to home. When the enemy takes out your far sea asset, you need to wait 4-5 years to build a replacement. It becomes your Achilles heel!

 

[Deino]

Why I think CV 18 Fujian is China's first and last conventionally powered CV

1. Don't be like the 2-D being in Three Body where you witness a bullet hole every few feet and conclude the next one is a few feet away. China only built the Shandong like the Liaoning becoz she never built a carrier before and it was logical to imitate the Liaoning as her first domestic carrier. Why would China need to build another Fujian? She already mastered all the relevant technical skills to build something much better.

2. When mass produced the Type 076 can be "assembled" to get as much EM launch tracks as you need. Need the fire power of 1.5 carriers but sending out 2 CVs would actually be a waste? Then send out 3 Type 076 instead! The Type 076 is also cheap and fast to make. And when China has built up enough CVNs, the Type 076 can go back to their roles as dedicated UCAV carriers, instead of being stuck with another CV (after the Fujian) that China didn't really want.

3. China's warfare doctrine had always been about having the maximum possible range. You can only deploy a CV in your own backyard, but a CVN can be deployed anywhere even close to home. When the enemy takes out your far sea asset, you need to wait 4-5 years to build a replacement. It becomes your Achilles heel!

Interesting, however some recent claims suggest there will be indeed another 003 - maybe 003A of some sort - build in the South, while in the North it will be a CVN.

 

[Hendarto]

Yup, the nuclear containment wall is up

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Possible signs of Type 004 carrier at the Dalian Shipyard (1st image):Recent satellite image shows what some Chinese internet sources say is the containment module for one of the nuclear reactors (2nd image).

This followed credible rumours that the Type 004's reactor containment module is likely to be box-shaped, similar to those on the Nimitz and Ford classes.However, even assuming the module confirms the construction of a nuclear-powered vessel, we still can't be sure that this is a supercarrier at this stage. It's worth watching though.

 

[RajaBaja]

Yup, the nuclear containment wall is up

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Possible signs of Type 004 carrier at the Dalian Shipyard (1st image):Recent satellite image shows what some Chinese internet sources say is the containment module for one of the nuclear reactors (2nd image).

This followed credible rumours that the Type 004's reactor containment module is likely to be box-shaped, similar to those on the Nimitz and Ford classes.However, even assuming the module confirms the construction of a nuclear-powered vessel, we still can't be sure that this is a supercarrier at this stage. It's worth watching though.

China will field 6 carriers in years to come. Liaoning, Shandong and Fujian will be converted into nuke AC's. China is going Thorium based tech for nuke propulsion of their AC's. Latest technology under development.

 

[zebusome]

Japan has all the know how to build aircraft carriers and their warships are engineering marvel. After all as a great Imperial power, they ruled the Pacific with their aircraft carrier fleet during WWII.

The Izumo class helicopter carrier will now be equipped with F-35 VTOLs.

 

[zebusome]

The F-35B landed on JS Kaga (technically a destroyer) few year back and are now being operationalised.

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[nang2]

China will field 6 carriers in years to come. Liaoning, Shandong and Fujian will be converted into nuke AC's. China is going Thorium based tech for nuke propulsion of their AC's. Latest technology under development.

Conversion? You might as well just build new ones.

 

[zebusome]

JS Kaga

 

[RajaBaja]

Conversion? You might as well just build new ones.

Propulsion updates don't mean a revamp of the entire system.

In future Liaoning and Shandong will primarily be used for training and 2nd line of coastal area defense around the first island chain so they can serve with upgrades to propulsion easily.

 

[nang2]

Propulsion updates don't mean a revamp of the entire system.

In future Liaoning and Shandong will primarily be used for training and 2nd line of coastal area defense around the first island chain so they can serve with upgrades to propulsion easily.

Swapping conventional power train with a nuclear one is probably close to entire system revamping.

 

[FHN]

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[FHN]