In contrast, Fujian is entering a critical testing and integration phase. Open-source defense estimates suggest the ship will be able to host 48 to 60 fixed-wing aircraft and 12 to 15 helicopters. This would give it an air group of approximately 60 to 75 aerial platforms. While no official data from the PLAN has confirmed this breakdown, most analysts expect a future air wing that includes:
- 24 to 30 J-15T "Flying Shark" multirole fighters, upgraded for catapult launches
- 12 to 18 J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters, currently undergoing flight trials
- 4 to 6 KJ-600 turboprop airborne early warning aircraft, still under sea-based testing
- 6 to 8 Z-18F or Z-20 anti-submarine and utility helicopters
- Potential unmanned additions, such as the GJ-11 stealth drone or other PLAN-specific UAVs
The aircraft types reflect China's intent to build a balanced naval air wing, modeled on the U.S. approach, capable of executing strike, AEW&C, ASW, and stealth missions. However, the capabilities of these platforms are still under development. The J-35 has not yet reached carrier qualification, and the KJ-600 has not yet declared initial operational capability. Moreover, PLAN rotary-wing assets currently lack the advanced mission systems, survivability upgrades, and operational track record seen in the U.S. MH-60R/S series.
In the domain of sensors and battle management, the Ford-class is ahead. Its Dual Band Radar combines X-band and S-band AESA arrays, allowing simultaneous target tracking, fire control, and situational awareness. It is fully linked into the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) network, providing real-time data sharing across the fleet. The ship also fields Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) Block II and Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) for close-in defense.
Fujian carries dual Type 346A AESA radars, similar to those on China's Type 055 destroyers. It is also equipped with HQ-10 short-range missiles and the Type 1130 close-in weapons system. Although modern by PLAN standards, these systems are not yet proven in joint or networked maritime combat. The ship's combat management system has not been publicly disclosed and is presumed to be evolving alongside China's broader fleet digitization initiatives.
Endurance remains another critical differentiator. The Ford-class can operate continuously for 20 to 25 years without reactor refueling, supported by a global network of logistics bases and replenishment ships. This gives U.S. carrier strike groups unmatched operational reach. In contrast, Fujian will depend on conventional fuel and PLAN logistics ships, which limits its range of continuous deployment. Most estimates suggest Fujian can operate for 90 to 100 days at sea before requiring replenishment, depending on fuel and sortie tempo.
In terms of readiness, the U.S. Navy maintains a significant advantage. American carrier aviation has been honed through decades of combat operations, global exercises, and allied interoperability. Carrier Air Wings routinely integrate with NATO and Indo-Pacific forces. Fujian, by comparison, is only now entering service and has yet to perform sustained operations at sea with a full strike group, let alone conduct real-world expeditionary missions.
From a technical standpoint, Fujian represents China's most sophisticated naval asset to date. It introduces true CATOBAR capability, a path to fifth-generation carrier aviation, and the ability to launch heavier aircraft, such as the KJ-600. However, while the ship narrows the capability gap in launch systems, air wing architecture, and future AEW integration, it does not close it. The Ford-class remains the benchmark, with broader aircraft capacity, superior propulsion, higher sortie generation rates, and full-spectrum mission capability.
The deeper contrast lies in strategic philosophy. The U.S. Navy's carrier model is global, nuclear-powered, interoperable, and expeditionary by design. The PLAN's model is regional, conventional, and still undergoing doctrinal maturation. China is building fast and learning quickly, but it has yet to replicate the experience and combat readiness that underpin U.S. naval aviation.
As Fujian completes its integration phase and a fourth Chinese carrier -- expected to be nuclear-powered -- enters construction, the Indo-Pacific naval landscape is shifting. The competition is no longer hypothetical. Fujian vs. Ford has become a real-world equation in strategic balance. For defense planners, this is the new frontline of naval airpower in the 21st century.
China vs. U.S. Carrier Air Power: Strategic Balance Beyond the Hull
The broader naval airpower comparison shows that while China is making rapid strides, the United States still holds decisive operational and doctrinal advantages. The U.S. Navy operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, each capable of fielding 70 to 90 aircraft. This fleet is supplemented by nine U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault ships, all of which can launch F-35Bs, greatly expanding America's distributed maritime strike options.
China currently fields three aircraft carriers: Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian. The first two use ski-jump flight decks and are limited to STOVL-style launch operations. Only Fujian introduces catapult-assisted launch and arrest recovery, placing it in a different class of capability. However, even Fujian is still dependent on shore-based infrastructure, fuel logistics, and a regional support structure concentrated in East Asia.
What differentiates U.S. naval aviation most is its integration into a real-time, joint-force architecture. U.S. Carrier Air Wings operate as part of a fully networked C4ISR ecosystem, sharing data with satellites, Aegis destroyers, submarines, drones, and allied units. The PLAN is building a similar network using phased-array radars, ISR satellites, and indigenous data links, but it remains behind in combat validation, interoperability, and secure global reach.
China is closing gaps in stealth technology, AEW&C, electronic warfare, and precision strike. It is likely to have at least six carriers by the early 2030s, two of which could be nuclear-powered. Yet numbers alone do not equal power. Training, logistics, doctrine, and coalition trust remain critical. The U.S. Navy continues to dominate across all of these factors.
For now, the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian signals a new chapter in Chinese naval development. But the U.S. Ford still sets the standard.