China: First voyages of the third aircraft carrier

At the end of June, the South China Morning Post reported that China claimed to have the world's largest conventional aircraft carrier, the "Fujian". The privately owned (Alibaba), but in China recognised for its narrow degree of freedom to publish factually, referred in particular to the electromagnetic catapult: something had been achieved with this technology on a conventionally powered ship that was not considered feasible. The US Navy can also demonstrably achieve this with the Ford class, but their energy systems are known to be nuclear-powered and can therefore generate sufficient electricity. The "Fujian" is China's third aircraft carrier and the first to be built to its own national design. The 80,000-tonne displacement ship was launched in June 2022. The maiden voyage in the middle of the year lasted eight days and is said to have been a success. However, it is not yet possible to speak of an imminent entry into service: It will probably be another four years before the aircraft carrier is ready for deployment. The first sea trials of the "Fujian" were well timed in China, as the US Navy aircraft carrier "Theodore Roosevelt" had just arrived in the East Asian sea area to conduct joint exercises with South Korea and Japan. At the same time, RIMPAC was imminent, so China probably wanted to send a signal. Further performance parameters or data on armament, as well as the number of aircraft to be taken on board, are unofficial and so far remain vague.