Alert: China’s New Fujian Aircraft Carrier Set to Enable Swarm Attack Capability Creating Strategic Shock Potential.

On June 23, 2025, China’s state broadcaster CCTV confirmed that the Fujian aircraft carrier, the most advanced vessel in the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), will soon be capable of conducting swarm attacks through massive deck load strikes. This capability, enabled by its electromagnetic launch system, marks a turning point in China's naval strategy. Drawing inspiration from the U.S. Navy’s Alpha Strikes during the Vietnam War, the Fujian’s ability to launch numerous aircraft simultaneously aims to overwhelm enemy defenses at the onset of combat. As reported by CCTV, this technological breakthrough positions China to rapidly escalate its naval warfare capabilities and reshape power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

With the Fujian poised to enter full service by the end of 2025, China is rapidly redefining its maritime posture. This carrier’s capability to execute synchronized swarm attacks, combined with its technological enhancements, grants the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) a powerful tool to deter adversaries and assert dominance in contested waters (Picture source: CCTV)

The Fujian represents China’s first aircraft carrier to be equipped with an electromagnetic catapult launch system (EMALS), differentiating it from the ski-jump equipped Liaoning and Shandong. This advancement not only allows for heavier aircraft and faster launches but also provides the critical foundation for executing large-scale deck load strikes. These strikes enable the carrier to launch a substantial number of aircraft in quick succession, facilitating swarm tactics designed to saturate enemy detection and response systems. The integration of this system signals China’s ambition to rival U.S. Navy carrier operations in both technology and combat doctrine.

Since its first sea trials in May 2024, the Fujian has progressed steadily toward operational readiness. According to CCTV, it is now entering the decisive phase of combat capability development. The strategic doctrine behind the Fujian’s deployment hinges on maximizing sortie generation rates and preemptive strike capability, tactics historically leveraged by the United States during high-intensity conflicts such as the Vietnam War. Military analyst Cao Weidong emphasized that successful execution of a deck load strike would require full system coordination and highly trained personnel, suggesting the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is nearing a significant leap in operational proficiency.

The Fujian’s technological edge, particularly its EMALS, offers a substantial advantage over conventional carriers. While U.S. Navy carriers like the Gerald R. Ford class also employ EMALS, China’s rapid development and integration of the system into its third carrier signals an aggressive intent to close the capability gap. Compared to the Liaoning or India’s INS Vikrant, which still rely on ski-jump configurations, the Fujian can support more versatile and heavily loaded aircraft with greater launch efficiency. Historically, U.S. Alpha Strikes achieved overwhelming tactical success by combining a massive first-wave offensive with synchronized operations. The Fujian’s ability to replicate such tactics would represent a doctrinal convergence with U.S. naval warfare while giving Beijing a credible power projection tool.

Strategically, the Fujian’s new capability has significant implications across military, geopolitical, and geostrategic domains. In potential conflict scenarios over Taiwan or in the South China Sea, the ability to launch a swarm of aircraft rapidly could secure air and maritime superiority within a narrow window, enabling precision strikes on key infrastructure and command centers. Swarm tactics could paralyze Taiwan’s early warning systems and overwhelm defense layers through sheer volume and speed. The platform also enhances PLAN’s capacity for joint operations and could enable Alpha Strike-style offensives from stand-off distances, reducing risk while maximizing impact. Furthermore, the deployment of the Fujian adds weight to China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy and could complicate U.S. and allied force planning in the Indo-Pacific theater.

With the Fujian poised to enter full service by the end of 2025, China is rapidly redefining its maritime posture. This carrier’s capability to execute synchronized swarm attacks, combined with its technological enhancements, grants the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) a powerful tool to deter adversaries and assert dominance in contested waters. The public confirmation of such doctrines by CCTV signals not only military preparedness but also a deliberate message of strategic intent from Beijing, reinforcing its long-term objective of challenging U.S. naval supremacy and altering the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.