Eye in the sky captures China’s Fujian aircraft carrier practising manoeuvres

Commercial satellite images appear to show the vessel during its seventh sea trial which is known to be under way in the Bohai Sea

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One of the images that was posted on social media and purports to show China’s Fujian aircraft carrier being put through its paces during its latest sea trials. Photo: Weibo / 单手搓核弹

Published: 6:00pm, 31 Mar 2025Updated: 12:42am, 1 Apr 2025

China is ramping up performance testing of its most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, as it accelerates towards commissioning, according to commercial satellite images that were posted on social media.

In the images – said to have been taken on Friday and Saturday from above the Bohai Sea, northeastern China – the Fujian’s steering and turning capabilities appear to be the focus of testing.

Straight trails can be seen in the wake of the Fujian, along with circles of decreasing diameter, in what experts said showed a good level of manoeuvrability by the 80,000-tonne vessel. The Post could not independently verify the images.

One of the pictures, first posted on Saturday by satellite observation account @RemoteSensingDong, featured a large cloud near the starboard side of the Fujian, which was identified by several commenters as a water plume generated by a shock test.

A shock resistance test evaluates a warship’s ability to withstand the underwater explosions of enemy mines and torpedoes – crucial to ensuring its survival and continued operation in times of combat.

Such tests, which involve a planned explosion close by, are usually carried out on the first ship of a new class. The ship’s performance during and after the impact, as well as the crew’s readiness and response, are monitored and assessed.

The Fujian is the PLA Navy’s third aircraft carrier and China’s first to be equipped with electromagnetic catapults – a technology that previously was confined to the USS Gerald Ford.