Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian
Fujian (18; Chinese: 福建舰; pinyin: Fújiàn Jiàn), named after Fujian province, is the third aircraft carrier of the Chinese aircraft carrier programme and the first of the Type 003 class (NATO/OSD Fujian-class CV). Built by the Jiangnan Shipyard for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), Fujian was launched on June 17, 2022 and is currently fitting out as of January 2024. It is China's first CATOBAR aircraft carrier with a fully indigenous design, an integrated propulsion system and three electromagnetic catapults, unlike the ski-jump flight decks of the previous Chinese aircraft carriers.
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Type 003 Fujian |
| Builders | Jiangnan Shipyard |
| Operators | People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by | Type 002 Shandong |
| Succeeded by | Type 004 |
| Planned | 1 |
| Building | 1 |
| History | |
| China | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | Fujian province |
| Builder | Jiangnan Shipyard |
| Laid down | March 2015 – February 2016 |
| Launched | 17 June 2022 |
| Status | Sea trials |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type 003 aircraft carrier |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 300 m (984 ft 3 in) (waterline) 316 m (1,036 ft 9 in) (flight deck) |
| Beam | 39.5 m (129 ft 7 in) (waterline) 76 m (249 ft 4 in) (flight deck) |
| Propulsion | Steam turbines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts, >220,000 hp (160 MW) |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar deck |
The Type 003 class was originally unofficially called Type 002 when Shandong, China's then-incomplete second carrier, was believed to be designated Type 001A. Shandong's official designation, Type 002, was revealed during commissioning. Observers hence believed the third carrier will be the Type 003.