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China’s most advanced Fujian aircraft carrier on track for 2025 PLA handover, latest Weibo photos suggest
- Covers taken off all three electromagnetic catapults on the deck of the Fujian, social media photos posted by military buffs show
- Images indicate readiness for sea trials and systems testing, with warship likely to join the PLA within two years as scheduled, observers say
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China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier is close to undergoing its first sea trials, latest photos posted online by military buffs suggest, taking the giant warship a step closer to becoming an actual combat platform.
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The pace of progress indicates that the Fujian, a 1,037-foot (316m) supercarrier, is ready to test its aircraft launch systems and will join the Chinese navy in 2025 as scheduled, military experts said.
Images posted by military enthusiasts on Chinese microblogging site Weibo earlier this week showed the covers had been removed from all three advanced electromagnetic catapults on the deck of the Fujian – offering outsiders a glimpse of its entire aircraft launch system for the first time.
One of the covers was also seen to have been removed about two months ago, suggesting imminent take-off tests.
“Removing all the protective covers means debugging work of the electromagnetic catapults has been completed, allowing the aircraft launch systems to work during sea trial,” Song Zhongping, a former instructor for the People’s Liberation Army, said.
Pictures circulating on Chinese social media platforms over the weekend also showed smoke coming out of the warship’s chimney, indicating intensive tests of the main propulsion system and other equipment were under way.
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