On Monday (September 22), the Chinese Navy released a video showing the J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600 aircraft successfully completing catapult takeoff and landing training on China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian.

This marks the first time that China has achieved electromagnetic catapult and arrestor landing for multiple advanced carrier-based aircraft on an aircraft carrier with a catapult system. The electromagnetic catapult technology of the Fujian has always been a focal point of international attention. This video for the first time visually demonstrated the ability of the three carrier-based aircraft to take off smoothly with the help of this technology, which greatly shocked both domestic and foreign military experts.

The People's Liberation Army News Communication Center published an article on the WeChat public account "China Military Voice," stating that this achievement signifies that the Fujian has acquired the capability for electromagnetic catapult and recovery, marking another major breakthrough in the development of China's aircraft carriers, and is of "milestone significance" for promoting the transformation and construction of the Chinese Navy.

Is China's Fujian Carrier Comparable to the U.S. Ford?

The Fujian is the first domestically designed and built catapult-type aircraft carrier in China, and also the largest conventional-powered aircraft carrier known so far in the world. More importantly, it is the second aircraft carrier in the world, after the U.S. "Ford" carrier, equipped with electromagnetic catapult systems.

As a carrier comparable to the U.S. Ford, after China released the test flight video of the Fujian, it immediately attracted great attention from American media. On Tuesday, the website The National Interest published an article stating that China has made a "big leap" in aircraft carrier technology.

The article stated that electromagnetic catapult is still a relatively new technology in naval warfare. The U.S. military has encountered many problems with this technology, which led to the delay in the commissioning of the "Ford."

Despite the fact that several American media outlets have compared the Fujian and the Ford, they believe that the latter does not have an advantage. CNN pointed out that although the two can be compared in terms of electromagnetic catapult technology, all U.S. aircraft carriers are nuclear-powered, meaning they can sail indefinitely as long as supplies allow. The Fujian uses conventional fuel and must refuel by docking at a port or receiving fuel at sea.

Undoubtedly, the successful trial of the electromagnetic catapult on the Fujian represents a qualitative leap in China's aircraft carrier technology, allowing it to compete with U.S. aircraft carrier technology. This has also made the Sino-U.S. military competition more direct and intense.

With the Fujian officially entering service, the maritime situation in the Western Pacific may no longer be dominated by one side with overwhelming superiority but will enter a new normal of prolonged confrontation and long-term rivalry.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7553850662698615350/

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