China Becomes the Second Country After the US to Use the Electromagnetic Catapult System
China’s Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier has taken a historic step in naval aviation by successfully conducting its first flight tests with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). With this achievement, China has become the second country after the US to adopt this advanced technology.
Historic Flight Tests
During the tests, China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter Shenyang J-35, the catapult-capable Shenyang J-15T, and the Xi’an KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft successfully took off using the electromagnetic catapult.
This development marks the transition from the ski-jump (STOBAR) system used on the previous carriers Liaoning and Shandong to the CATOBAR standard. EMALS enables aircraft to take off with heavier payloads and fuel, significantly enhancing Fujian’s operational capacity.
EMALS and Its Advantages
Unlike traditional steam catapults, EMALS operates with linear induction motors. This technology:
- Accelerates aircraft more smoothly and precisely,
- Puts less stress on airframe structures,
- Is lighter and requires less maintenance,
- Can launch both heavy fighter jets and lighter unmanned aerial vehicles.
Specifications of the Fujian Aircraft Carrier
- Displacement: ~80,000 tons
- Length: 320 metres
- Propulsion: Steam turbines
- Capacity: Over 40 aircraft
- EMALS: 3 electromagnetic catapults
Strategic Significance
As China’s first domestically designed EMALS-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian represents a force multiplier for Beijing’s naval power. Its ability to project greater naval strength in the Asia-Pacific region is seen as a sign that competition with the US has entered a new phase.
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