ISTANBUL

China's first electromagnetic catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has achieved a breakthrough by hosting the first catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested landing training for the J-15T heavy fighter jet, the J-35 stealth fighter jet, and the KJ-600 early warning aircraft.

Several key capabilities of Fujian and its aircraft have reached world-class levels, indicating China's emergence as a major aircraft carrier power, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on its website.

Three different types of aircraft, namely the J-15T, J-35, and KJ-600, were showcased during a massive military parade held on Sept. 3 in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in World War II.

The training confirmed that China's domestically developed electromagnetic catapult and arresting systems are fully compatible with various aircraft types, the Chinese Navy said.

This indicated that Fujian has achieved initial full-deck operational capability, allowing different types of carrier-based aircraft to join its operations, the navy added.

Hu Bo, a Chinese maritime expert, defined this development as 'a huge milestone' on his account on the US social media company X, adding that now the Chinese Navy "has an aircraft carrier group that can compete with any opponent in the far sea."

Since its initial sea trials in May 2024, the Fujian has completed several planned maritime tests, advancing with the commissioning of equipment and evaluations of its overall operational stability.

The Fujian, first unveiled in June 2022, is the Chinese navy's largest-ever ship and China's third aircraft carrier after the Liaoning and the Shandong vessels.