13 Sep, 2024

Naval News Navy 2024

2024年9月13日

海军新闻海军

 

Recent footage released by Chinese state media shows the first test of the electromagnetic catapult launch system on China's most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian. The test represents a major step forward in modernizing China's naval aviation capabilities.

中国官方媒体最近发布的视频显示，电磁弹射发射系统首次在中国最先进的航母“福建”号上进行测试。此次试验标志着中国海军航空能力现代化迈出了重要一步。

 

China's Fujian aircraft carrier successfully tests its advanced electromagnetic catapult system, showcasing a major leap in naval aviation capabilities. (Picture source: China CCTV Military)

中国福建号航空母舰成功测试了其先进的电磁弹射系统，展示了海军航空能力的重大飞跃。（图片来源：中国中央电视台军事频道）

 

The footage, which was featured in a trailer for a military-themed TV series released by state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday, appears to have been filmed directly from the flight deck of the *Fujian*. One of the shots shows a camera mounted under a warplane as it is launched from the carrier using the new electromagnetic catapult system. Another scene features a sailor inside an operations room appearing to trigger the launch device.

这段视频出现在国家广播公司中央电视台周三发布的一部军事题材电视连续剧的预告片中，似乎是直接从“福建”号的驾驶舱拍摄的。其中一张照片显示了安装在战机下方的摄像机，当它使用新的电磁弹射器系统从航母上弹射时。另一个场景是一名水手在操作室内似乎触发了弹射装置。

 

This marks the first public demonstration of the launch system aboard the Fujian, officially launched in June 2022. The carrier, the largest and most advanced in China’s growing fleet, is the first in the Chinese Navy to be equipped with electromagnetic catapults, a significant technological leap over the older steam-powered systems used on the country's two previous carriers. The electromagnetic system is similar to the one used by the U.S. Navy’s latest *Gerald R. Ford*-class carriers and allows for quicker and more efficient aircraft launching.

这标志着该发弹射系统在2022年6月正式下水的福建号上首次公开演示。这艘航母是中国不断壮大的舰队中规模最大、最先进的航母，也是中国海军第一艘配备电磁弹射器的航母，与中国前两艘航母上使用的旧蒸汽动力系统相比，这是一次重大的技术飞跃。该电磁系统类似于美国海军最新的*杰拉尔德·R·福特*级航母使用的电磁系统，可以更快、更高效地弹射飞机。

 

The Fujian’s electromagnetic catapult system, known as EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System), provides several advantages over traditional steam catapults. Firstly, it allows for smoother and more controlled acceleration, reducing stress on the aircraft and enabling more frequent and flexible launches. This technology is expected to improve sortie rates, meaning that the *Fujian* can launch and recover aircraft more rapidly and efficiently compared to older carriers, which rely on ski-jump ramps and steam catapults.

福建的电磁弹射系统被称为EMALS（电磁飞机弹射系统），与传统的蒸汽弹射器相比具有几个优势。首先，它允许更平稳、更可控的加速，减轻飞机的压力，并实现更频繁、更灵活的发射。这项技术有望提高出动率，这意味着与依赖滑跃坡道和蒸汽弹射器的旧航母相比，“福建”号可以更快、更有效地弹射和回收飞机。

 

The EMALS system can also accommodate a wider range of aircraft, including heavier and more sophisticated next-generation planes and drones. This will greatly enhance the Fujian's offensive and defensive operations capabilities, making it a crucial asset for the PLAN as it seeks to project power across the Indo-Pacific region.

EMALS系统还可以容纳更广泛的飞机，包括更重、更复杂的下一代飞机和无人机。这将大大增强福建的进攻和防御作战能力，使其成为中国海军寻求在印度洋-太平洋地区投射力量的重要资产。

 

The Fujian, named after a coastal province in southeastern China, represents the latest evolution in China's naval power. It is the country's third aircraft carrier but the first to be designed and built entirely in China with advanced technologies. Displacing over 80,000 tons, it is also significantly larger than its predecessors, the Liaoning and Shandong, based on older Soviet designs.

福建号以中国东南部的一个沿海省份命名，代表了中国海军力量的最新发展。这是中国的第三艘航母，但也是第一艘完全是中国设计和建造的先进技术航母。它的排水量超过8万吨，也比其前身辽宁号和山东号大得多，这两艘航母都是基于旧苏联设计的。

 

The carrier is part of China's ambitious naval modernization program, aimed at establishing a world-class navy capable of challenging U.S. dominance in the Asia-Pacific. The *Fujian*'s technological advancements, particularly the electromagnetic catapults, place it in the same class as the most advanced aircraft carriers in the world, potentially allowing China to rival the U.S. Navy regarding carrier strike capabilities.

该航母是中国雄心勃勃的海军现代化计划的一部分，旨在建立一支能够挑战美国在亚太地区主导地位的世界级海军。“福建”号的技术进步，特别是电磁弹射器，使其与世界上最先进的航母处于同一级别，这可能使中国在航母打击能力方面与美国海军竞争。

 

However, while the release of the footage marks an important milestone, it remains unclear whether the test was conducted while the carrier was docked in port or during sea trials. The Fujian has yet to enter full operational service, and Chinese military experts believe it may take several more years before the carrier becomes fully combat-ready.

然而，尽管这段视频的发布标志着一个重要的里程碑，但目前尚不清楚测试是在航母停靠港口还是在海上试航期间进行的。福建号尚未进入全面服役，中国军事专家认为，该航母可能还需要几年时间才能完全做好战斗准备。

 

Once operational, the Fujian will significantly enhance China's power projection capabilities, particularly in the East and South China Seas, where territorial disputes with neighboring countries and increased U.S. naval presence have heightened tensions. The *Fujian*’s ability to launch and recover various aircraft more efficiently will be critical in asserting Chinese maritime dominance in the region.

一旦投入使用，福建号将显著增强中国的力量投射能力，特别是在东海和南海，与邻国的领土争端和美国海军存在的增强加剧了紧张局势。“福建”号更有效地弹射和回收各种飞机的能力对于维护中国在该地区的海上主导地位至关重要。

 

Moreover, the technological advancements of the Fujian aircraft carrier signal China's growing ability to innovate in military technology, moving beyond reliance on older foreign designs. This marks a new phase in China's military development, with the country increasingly self-reliant in cutting-edge naval technologies.

此外，福建号航空母舰的技术进步表明，中国在军事技术创新方面的能力日益增强，不再依赖旧的外国设计。这标志着中国军事发展进入了一个新阶段，中国在尖端海军技术方面日益自力更生。

 

While the U.S. Navy still holds a qualitative and quantitative edge, China's development of advanced carriers like the Fujian could shift the balance of naval power in Asia, making this test a closely watched event in global military circles.

尽管美国海军在质量和数量上仍具有优势，但中国发展福建号等先进航母可能会改变亚洲海军力量的平衡，使这次试验成为全球军事界密切关注的事件。

 

In the coming months, naval military analysts will look for additional signs of progress as the Fujian continues its sea trials and prepares for eventual deployment, signaling a new era in Chinese naval capabilities.

在未来几个月，随着福建号继续进行海上试航并准备最终部署，海军军事分析人士将寻找更多进展迹象，这标志着中国海军能力的新时代。