The 80,000-Ton Bottleneck: China Fujian Aircraft Carrier Design Flaws
Analysis of the design flaws in China's Fujian aircraft carrier. Explore why the 80,000-tonne vessel's conventional power limits its advanced EMALS technology.
China's naval pride is showing its cracks. The Fujian, the world's largest conventional warship, reportedly faces significant design flaws that only a shift to nuclear power can solve.
China Fujian Aircraft Carrier Design Flaws and Power Constraints
Commissioned in November 2025, the Fujian boasts a displacement of over 80,000 tonnes. It's the first non-American ship equipped with advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS). However, maintaining the massive electrical load required for these catapults using conventional engines has proven problematic.
According to a military magazine, the ship's current configuration limits its operational efficiency. While U.S. Navy carriers like the Gerald R. Ford-class utilize nuclear reactors to provide near-infinite power, the Fujian relies on fossil fuels, which constrains its range and the frequency of aircraft launches.
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