World's largest 80,000-ton aircraft carrier enters service in China

China has commissioned its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, marking a significant milestone for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Launched in June 2022 and entering sea trials in May 2024, the Fujian is the world’s largest non-nuclear warship with a displacement exceeding 80,000 tons. It is the first Chinese carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapult launch technology, a system that allows faster, heavier aircraft launches compared to the ski-jump decks on earlier carriers. This technology places China alongside the United States, whose USS Gerald R. Ford is the only other carrier with electromagnetic catapults. The Fujian’s commissioning ceremony was presided over by President Xi Jinping, highlighting the strategic importance of the vessel in extending China’s naval power projection. The Fujian is designed to carry a mix of advanced aircraft, including the J-35A stealth fighter—China’s first carrier-based stealth jet and only the second such aircraft globally after the U.S.