China News Service, June 18th. In the attention of the outside world, China's third aircraft carrier, the "People's Liberation Army Navy Fujian Ship", was launched on June 17 at the Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard.
Foreign media generally believe that the launch of the Fujian ship marks a major military progress in China, and China's aircraft carrier construction capabilities have reached a new level.
The electromagnetic catapult system it is equipped with is also regarded as a "major leap" for the Chinese navy.
Fujian ship launched
"China's aircraft carrier construction capability has reached a new level"
On the morning of June 17, the launching ceremony of my country's third aircraft carrier was held at the Jiangnan Shipyard of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
Approved by the Central Military Commission, my country's third aircraft carrier was named "Fujian Ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy", with the hull number "18".
Reuters, Russian satellite network, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Japan's Kyodo News and many other foreign media have reported on this.
Agence France-Presse said the launch of China's largest and most modern aircraft carrier marks a major military advance for China.
The Associated Press commented that the new-generation aircraft carrier, designed and built by China, is a "milestone" in China's quest to expand the range and power of the navy.
Equipped with the latest weaponry and aircraft-launching technology, the Fujian ship is considered capable of rivaling Western aircraft carriers.
"This is an important milestone for China's military-industrial complex," the report quoted Jane's Defense Weekly defense analyst Rizwan Ramot as saying that "Chinese engineers are now able to independently manufacture a full suite of surface operations related to modern naval warfare. equipment”, including corvettes, destroyers, amphibious assault ships and aircraft carriers, etc. This ability to build complex warships will undoubtedly also bring benefits to China’s shipbuilding industry.
Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" quoted the analysis of military scholars as saying that the Fujian ship's tonnage, flat deck and electromagnetic ejection technology have marked a new level of China's aircraft carrier construction capabilities, but as a conventional power aircraft carrier, the Fujian ship is still not. The target ship of the Chinese Navy.
In the next few years, the Chinese Navy will try to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a larger tonnage based on the technology of the Fujian ship, and continue to narrow the gap with the US aircraft carrier.
Configure Electromagnetic Ejection
"A Major Leap for the Chinese Navy"
As the first catapult-type aircraft carrier designed and built by our country, the Fujian ship adopts a straight and long flight deck, equipped with electromagnetic catapult and blocking devices, and has a full-load displacement of more than 80,000 tons.
In particular, its electromagnetic ejection system has attracted the attention of foreign media.
What are the technical advantages and strategic significance of this system?
The "Washington Post" reported that the Fujian ship is China's first aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system, which means that the Chinese military will be able to launch heavier aircraft in a wider range.
The Indian Express also pointed out that the electromagnetic catapult system is more energy efficient and can reduce maintenance costs.
Indian naval experts see it as a major leap forward for the Chinese navy, as currently only the US has deployed the system.
Agence France-Presse quoted Colin Gao, a researcher at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, who further analyzed that this may be a "game changer" for the Chinese navy, because the traditional flight deck plus the electromagnetic catapult system can, at least in theory, Allowing the carrier to launch aircraft faster and carry heavier loads is a key determinant in combat.
"At a strategic level, the new carrier heralds the dawn of the PLA Navy's blue water era."
CNN reported on "China's third 'most advanced' aircraft carrier Fujian launched".
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think tank, told CNN that the Fujian ship’s electromagnetic catapult system is a major upgrade to the ski-jump decks used by China’s first two aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong—the same as those used by U.S. carriers. A similar system will allow China to launch a wider variety of aircraft from the Fujian ship at a faster rate and carry more munitions.
"This is a very important step forward. (China) they are committed to building the aircraft carrier program and continue to push the boundaries of what they can reach," said Matthew Funaiole, senior researcher for the China Program at CSIS.