China has commissioned its first indigenously designed aircraft carrier after months of sea trials, and named it the Fujian, after the province facing Taiwan across a narrow strait, according to state media reports on Friday (November 7).

First shown to the public in June 2022, the Fujian was entirely designed and built domestically. It is China's third aircraft carrier, with a flat flight deck and electromagnetic catapults for take-offs that make it a potentially far more powerful naval weapon than China's first two Russian-designed carriers.

The Fujian will be able to carry significantly more and heavier-armed jet fighters than the Liaoning and Shandong carriers, which are smaller and rely on ramps to launch aircraft.

Regional military attaches and analysts say they will be watching upcoming deployments, trying to gauge how quickly the Fujian is able to become combat ready by monitoring flight operations and efforts to combine its operations with support ships and submarines.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

FILE: China's third aircraft carrier the Fujian, as it enters service

VIDEO SHOWS: FILE FOOTAGE OF FUJIAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER INAUGURATION AND ON SEA TRIAL / FILE SATELLITE IMAGES OF FUJIAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

SHOWS: SHANGHAI, CHINA (FILE - JUNE 17, 2022) (CCTV - No use China)

1. SAILORS STANDING IN FRONT OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER FUJIAN FOR OFFICIAL INAUGURATION CEREMONY

2. LANTERNS AND CONFETTI

3. SAILORS CLAPPING / FIREWORKS, WATER SPRAYING, AND COLOURED STREAKS LAUNCHING AROUND FUJIAN FOR CEREMONY

4. FLAGS AND DECORATIONS ON FUJIAN

5. CEREMONY IN PROGRESS

UNKNOWN LOCATION (FILE - RELEASED JANUARY 2, 2024) (CCTV - No use China)

6. AERIAL SHOTS OF FUJIAN CARRIER

SHANGHAI, CHINA (FILE - MAY 1, 2024) (CCTV - No use China)

7. VARIOUS OF CHINA’S THIRD AIRCRAFT CARRIER, FUJIAN, EMBARKING ON ITS MAIDEN SEA TRIAL

8. VARIOUS SPLITSCREENS OF PERSONNEL WORKING TO PREPARE FOR AIRCRAFT CARRIER FUJIAN LEAVING THE PORT / AIRCRAFT CARRIER FUJIAN SAILING ON SEA

9. VARIOUS SPLITSCREENS OF STRUCTURE OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER FUJIAN / AIRCRAFT CARRIER FUJIAN SAILING ON SEA

10. SPLITSCREEN OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER FUJIAN SAILING ON SEA

SHANGHAI, CHINA (FILE - MAY 31, 2022) (MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES - No resale / Must not obscure logo / Must on-screen courtesy Maxar Technologies) (MUTE)

11. SATELLITE IMAGE OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER

SHANGHAI, CHINA (FILE - JUNE 18, 2022) (MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES - No resale / Must not obscure logo / Must on-screen courtesy Maxar Technologies) (BLACK AND WHITE) (MUTE)

12. VARIOUS SATELLITE IMAGES OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER