China has the 2nd largest navy in the world. Its largest warship The CNS Fujian is expected to embark on its first sea voyage this year, according to an interview with the ship’s executive officer in the China Daily. The country has three aircraft carriers.
Type 003 Aircraft Carrier CNS Fujian
The Fujian, the largest aircraft carrier ever built by China, is a crucial part of the People’s Liberation Army’s centenary goals. It is the first of the Type 003 Class aircraft carriers.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has identified 2027, the centenary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as the deadline for the organization to achieve its modernization goals.
China is making rapid progress in developing advanced aircraft carriers that are on par with those of the US.
It is worth noting that China has chosen to name its new aircraft carrier after Fujian, a province located just across a narrow strait from Taiwan.
5 key facts about China’s largest warship Type 003 aircraft carrier CNS Fujian
1. It is the first domestically designed Chinese aircraft carrier.
2. The 80,000 metric ton CNS Fujian is 50% larger than China’s current in-service carriers. It puts the People’s Liberation Army Navy in the same class as supercarriers like the US Nimitz-class ships, which weigh 100,000 tons.
3. Unlike China’s other two carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, which use outdated Soviet technology and a ski-jump launching system, the Fujian has an advanced electromagnetic aircraft launch system, similar to that used on the US’s newest carrier, the USS Gerald Ford. This new system will also enable China to launch a greater variety of aircraft more quickly and with more ammunition.
4. The Type 003 aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian, spans a length of 300 meters (984 feet 3 inches) at the waterline and 316 meters (1,036 feet 9 inches) overall. It also features a beam of 39.5 meters (129 feet 7 inches) at the waterline and expands to 76 meters (249 feet 4 inches) overall.
5. The propulsion system of the CNS Fujian comprises steam turbines, 8 boilers, and 4 shafts, delivering a formidable power output of over 220,000 horsepower (164 MW).
Timeline:
1. The Chinese government launched the CNS Fujian with much fanfare on June 17, 2022. It has been undergoing final construction at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard.
2. After approximately 18 months of trials, China’s largest warship CNS Fujian will become operational by October 2024.
Inside China’s largest warship CNS Fujian: FAQs
Q: What is the most powerful ship in the Chinese Navy?
A: CNS Fujian is now the largest warship of the Chinese Navy. The 80,000 MT ship belongs to the supercarrier class.
Q: What is the name of the first aircraft carriers designed by China?
A: CNS Fujian. It is an 80,000 MT Supercarrier.
Q: How big is the Type 003?
A: The CNS Fujian, a Type 003 aircraft carrier, is 316 meters long and 76 meters wide. The part that touches the water is 300 meters long and 39.5 meters wide.
Q: Is Type 003 aircraft carrier nuclear?
A: No. The CNS Fujian is powered by steam turbines, providing a robust output of over 220,000 horsepower (164 MW).
Q: How big is the Type 003?
A: The Type 003 aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian, is 316 meters long and 76 meters wide.
