The Fujian (Type-003) aircraft carrier of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) will reach Full Operational Capability during 2026, in a key process for the consolidation of the country’s naval capabilities. In this way, China advances in the integration of its third unit of this type, with the objective of expanding its presence in distant waters and strengthening its strategic projection.
According to reports from official Chinese media, the Fujian will transition during 2026 from an initial operational capability to full combat capability, which will imply the conduct of training in distant waters. This type of exercise would mark the incorporation of the ship into the sequence of oceanic deployments, following the precedent of the aircraft carrier Shandong, which in April 2023 carried out its first training mission in the Western Pacific.
The Fujian stands out for being the first Chinese aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system, developed entirely domestically. After completing its first eight-day sea trial in May 2024, in which propulsion and energy systems were evaluated, the ship was officially commissioned into the Navy on November 5, 2025, marking the beginning of a stage characterized by the simultaneous operation of three aircraft carriers.
Following its entry into service, the Fujian carried out its first live-fire training mission at sea, in which different types of embarked aircraft participated, including the J-35, J-15T, J-15DT fighters and the KJ-600 early warning aircraft. During these activities, multiple cycles of catapult launches and recoveries were executed, along with formation navigation exercises and coordinated search and rescue operations.
In parallel with these activities, in recent months advances have been recorded in the development of the embarked air component, including the possible incorporation of new YJ-15 anti-ship missiles on J-15T fighters. Images released on social media show these aircraft equipped with two missiles, one under each wing, which would indicate an expansion of the offensive capabilities of the embarked air group.
At the beginning of April, the Fujian aircraft carrier was again detected conducting exercises in the Bohai Sea, off the city of Qinhuangdao, according to satellite images obtained by Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) media. In these activities, the ship operated accompanied by at least one escort unit, possibly a frigate, which suggests the continuation of tests aimed at the integration of the combat group.
Military affairs specialists point out that training in distant waters will be decisive in validating the Fujian’s full operational capability. According to analyst Wei Dongxu, “when we see the Fujian operating with its full aircraft load and demonstrating the ability to launch and recover aircraft across its entire deck, we will be able to consider its combat capability to be fully developed,” also highlighting that these deployments will involve operating in more complex environments, with possible external interference and greater demands for coordination and response.
*Images for illustrative purposes only.
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