China S 003 Fujian Carrier Is 1036 Feet Long Just Over 100 000 Tons

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 This makes the Fujian just a whisker shorter than the US "supercarrier" the USS Gerald Ford (1105 feet) but heavier than the Ford's just below 100,000 tons.
The Fujian is also much larger than Britian's light aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth which weighs in at 65,000 tons.

 


The Fujian has THREE EMALS or Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch Systems to fling heavy jets into the air.
The point to note is that the Fujian was launched in June 2022. Just over a year later the carrier is ready for operations. 
Here is some trivia - the Chinese build their aircraft carriers in pairs. The first carrier Liaoning has its twin in the Shandong. Both carriers have 'ski-jumps' in front. The Liaoning has hull Number 16 and the Shandong is No. 17.


The Shandong Hull No 17

 
The third carrier Fujian does not have a ski jump. It is a full flat top with three EMALS. It has hull No. 18. It is also conventionally powered. Odds are there will be a twin carrier to the Fujian with Hull No. 19. That will be China's FOURTH carrier.

Here is the interesting part. Chinese social media says the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, which builds aircraft carriers has shown graphics of another aircraft carrier bearing Hull No. 20, ie their FIFTH aircraft carrier.  It will likely be nuclear powered, be around 120,000 tons and in excess of 1,100 feet. And this FIFTH carrier should have its twin ie the SIXTH carrier with Hull No. 21.
Implying that China's FOURTH, FIFTH and SIXTH aircraft carriers (bearing Hull Nos. 19, 20 and 21 respectively) are already under construction or beginning construction simultaneously. 


This is trivia but it is in no way trivial at all. This is the industrial, technological, commercial and maritime power of China. And the Chinese have just started crawling.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
By Syed Akbar Ali 

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