In a landmark event for Chinese naval aviation, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has successfully conducted the first electromagnetic catapult launch of its fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter from the deck of its newest aircraft carrier, the Type 003 Fujian. The trial marks a significant technological and operational leap for China’s carrier strike capabilities and signals growing parity with U.S. Navy standards in carrier aviation.
Fujian’s CATOBAR Breakthrough: EMALS Comes Online
The Fujian (18), China’s first fully domestically built CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) aircraft carrier, officially entered sea trials in May 2024. On September 5th, 2025, Chinese state media confirmed that the vessel had performed its first successful electromagnetic catapult launch of a fixed-wing combat aircraft—a milestone long anticipated by analysts watching China’s naval modernization.
The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), developed indigenously by China after years of research and reverse engineering efforts reportedly inspired by U.S. Navy systems aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, replaces traditional steam catapults with linear induction motors. This allows smoother acceleration profiles, less stress on airframes, and compatibility with heavier or more delicate UAVs and next-gen fighters.
The successful integration of EMALS on Fujian makes it only the second operational carrier globally—after the USS Gerald R. Ford—to field this advanced launch technology. It also underscores China’s rapid progress in high-power electrical systems and integrated power management architecture necessary to support such energy-intensive systems.
The J-35 Naval Stealth Fighter: A Leap Toward Blue-Water Capability
The aircraft launched during this historic test was identified as the Shenyang J-35 (also referred to as FC-31 or “Gyrfalcon”), China’s twin-engine fifth-generation stealth fighter designed for carrier operations. While still undergoing flight testing and development refinement since its first public appearance in 2021 aboard land-based mockups of carrier decks at Wuhan Naval Aviation Test Center, this marks its first confirmed launch from an actual sea-going platform.
The J-35 is believed to feature:
- Low-observable shaping with internal weapons bays
- Twin WS-13 or WS-19 engines with potential thrust vectoring on future variants
- AESA radar and advanced sensor fusion avionics suite
- A folding wing design optimized for below-deck hangar storage on carriers
This stealth platform is expected to replace older J-15 “Flying Shark” fighters currently operating from China’s ski-jump-equipped carriers like the Liaoning and Shandong. The transition to CATOBAR-compatible stealth jets represents a doctrinal shift toward U.S.-style blue-water operations emphasizing deep strike capability beyond regional waters.
Tactical Implications for PLAN Carrier Strike Groups
The combination of EMALS-equipped carriers and fifth-generation naval fighters gives the PLAN an unprecedented ability to project power far beyond its traditional near-seas focus. With longer range sorties enabled by heavier fuel loads at takeoff and reduced wear-and-tear on airframes via smoother launches, Chinese CSGs can now operate more persistently in contested environments such as the Western Pacific or Indian Ocean.
This development also enhances interoperability with other advanced airframes under development or already fielded by China’s military-industrial complex—including UAVs like the GJ-11 Sharp Sword UCAV or KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft designed specifically for CATOBAR operations aboard Type 003-class carriers.
If deployed at scale across multiple future carriers—including rumored follow-on platforms like Type 004—this capability could enable sustained sortie rates approaching those of U.S. Navy supercarriers during high-tempo operations.
A Strategic Challenge to U.S. Naval Dominance?
The successful demonstration places pressure on regional actors and global navies alike to reassess maritime balances of power. While China still lags behind in terms of total number of operational carriers (three vs eleven for the U.S.), it is rapidly closing qualitative gaps through aggressive R&D investment and industrial mobilization under programs aligned with President Xi Jinping’s goal of building a “world-class navy” by mid-century.
Key strategic implications include:
- Sustainment: The ability to conduct longer-duration deployments further afield without reliance on nearby bases or island chains.
- Aerial dominance: Enhanced survivability and lethality via stealthy airframes capable of penetrating modern IADS networks.
- C4ISR integration: Improved sensor fusion across distributed platforms including space-based ISR assets feeding into PLAN battle networks.
- Nuclear deterrence support: Potential role for future nuclear-powered carriers (Type 004) acting as command nodes or UCAV motherships supporting SSBN bastions.
An Eye Toward Future Carrier Development Programs
The successful EMALS-J35 pairing validates core technologies that will likely be incorporated into China’s next-generation flat-tops—possibly nuclear-powered designs under development at Jiangnan Shipyard. Satellite imagery from late 2024 shows modular hull sections suggestive of larger displacement vessels exceeding even Type 003’s estimated ~80,000 tons full load displacement.
If these platforms integrate integrated electric propulsion (IEP), directed energy weapons (DEWs), or next-gen UCAV control suites as rumored in PLA think tank publications, they could represent not just parity but potential overmatch scenarios against current Western designs depending on deployment timelines and doctrinal evolution within PLAN structures.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment in Chinese Naval Aviation History
This inaugural electromagnetic launch from a Chinese-built supercarrier marks more than just an engineering feat—it signals Beijing’s intent to operate at peer level with established global maritime powers. As more data emerges about sortie rates, arrestor cable reliability tests, deck cycle times, and integration timelines for AEW&C platforms like KJ-600 aboard Fujian-class ships, analysts will be watching closely whether this breakthrough translates into sustained operational effectiveness—or remains symbolic without full fleet integration support structures behind it.
