A recent China Central Television (CCTV) program has provided a rare, up-close look at the powerful electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) on China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian. The footage showcased the system’s “high-speed explosive acceleration” and quiet operation, highlighting a key technological leap for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
In a detailed televised showcase, Chinese state media has pulled back the curtain on one of its navy’s most advanced technological achievements. A China Central Television (CCTV) program aired this week offered an unprecedented close-up view of the electromagnetic catapult in operation aboard China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian. The broadcast highlighted the system’s immense “burst power,” demonstrating its ability to accelerate a test sled to takeoff speed and bring it to an abrupt stop within the short deck length, all while generating remarkably little noise compared to older steam systems.
The program, which featured a regular test of one of the carrier’s catapults, allowed viewers to witness the raw capability that Chinese experts hail as a strategic leap. Bao Yu, a crew member of the Fujian, explained the advantages directly on camera. “The greatest advantage of the electromagnetic catapult system is that it can accelerate aircraft to takeoff speed over a relatively short distance,” he stated, according to the CCTV report. He emphasized its flexibility, noting it can meet the takeoff demands of a wider variety of aircraft under all conditions, thereby “greatly” improving sortie efficiency for continuous, uninterrupted launches.
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This move directly to electromagnetic catapults represents a significant bypass of conventional steam technology, which is still used on most non-U.S. carriers. Chinese military affairs expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times that this choice constitutes a “technological leap” that significantly boosts combat performance. “This leap is based on the development of China’s development in scientific technologies,” Song stressed, positioning the Fujian as one of the very few carriers worldwide equipped with such a system, representing a “top level” of Chinese tech.
The technical details underscored in the broadcast are crucial. Unlike steam catapults, which deliver a single, massive shove, electromagnetic systems can precisely regulate the ejection force for different aircraft weights. This enables carrier-based jets like the J-35 stealth fighter and the J-15T heavy fighter to launch with a full complement of fuel and weapons, maximizing their combat range and potency right from the deck. The CCTV report noted this precise control allows for “short-distance takeoffs and rapid sorties,” directly translating to a greater number of fighter jets launched in a given timeframe—a decisive combat advantage.
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Furthermore, the Fujian has shattered a long-held assumption in naval engineering. With a full-load displacement of over 80,000 tons, the conventionally powered carrier has “debunked the myth that only nuclear-powered aircraft carriers can support electromagnetic catapults,” the program stated. This achievement underscores advancements in China’s integrated power system, which can generate the massive, instantaneous electrical pulses required by the EMALS.
Since its official commissioning on November 5, the Fujian has rapidly begun integrated operations. The CCTV program reported that it has already formed a carrier strike group with escorts like the Yan’an and Tongliao and successfully conducted maritime training. During these drills, multiple aircraft types, including the J-35, J-15T, J-15DT electronic warfare aircraft, and KJ-600 early warning aircraft, completed numerous takeoffs and landings. These exercises effectively tested the full cycle of electromagnetic catapult launch, arrested recovery, and deck operations, verifying the ship’s aircraft compatibility and moving it closer to full operational capability. The vivid display on state television serves not just as a technical explainer, but as a powerful statement of a modernizing navy’s arriving future.
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