Dragon’s Arc: Warflight from the Fujian

The rise of China’s Fujian (CV-18) marks a pivotal shift in Western Pacific naval power, as the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) moves from ski-jump STOBAR carriers to advanced EMALS-equipped CATOBAR platforms. The story "Dragon’s Arc: Warflight from the Fujian" offers a gripping, technically grounded depiction of the Fujian in wartime, operating under intense pressure near the Philippine Sea. It highlights the carrier’s real-time integration of electromagnetic catapults, advanced arresting gear, and coordinated battle group operations. More than fiction, it reflects China’s evolving maritime doctrine and showcases a credible peer challenge to U.S. naval air supremacy in contested waters.

1. Red Sea Dawn: First Salvo in a High-Stakes Encounter

The horizon glowed with a metallic crimson as the PLA Navy’s Type 003 carrier Fujian surged through contested waters southeast of Luzon. It was Day 3 of high-tension maritime conflict in the Pacific. The East Sea Fleet, under joint PLA Rocket Force cover, was preparing its first full air wing launch against advancing U.S. carrier elements led by CVN-78 USS Gerald R. Ford.

Within the combat information center (CIC), tactical officers monitored real-time feeds from Yaogan-class reconnaissance satellites and DF-21D over-the-horizon radar drones. Hostile aircraft were tracked inbound, and a long-range Tomahawk salvo was reported fired from U.S. Virginia-class subs — possibly a probe to test Fujian’s defenses. The orders came down from Central Military Commission’s Joint Command Theater: intercept, deter, hold the airspace.

2. Flight Deck Ascension: The Dragon Breathes

Above CIC, the island superstructure of Fujian buzzed with controlled urgency. The Air Wing Commander, Senior Captain Li Tao, reviewed the launch roster: a combined alpha strike of J-15T catapult variant fighters, J-35 fifth-generation stealth aircraft, and the newly-deployed KJ-600 fixed-wing AEW&C platform.

The flight deck, over 300 meters long, had been transformed into a living organism. Yellowjackets directed fighters into launch lanes, greencoats locked launch bars onto EMALS shuttles, and redcrews loaded munitions: PL-15 air-to-air missiles, YJ-83K antiship missiles, and GB-6 precision glide bombs.

Unlike China’s previous STOBAR carriers, Fujian was a flat-deck CATOBAR marvel, with three EMALS catapults flush-mounted onto the deck, capable of launching aircraft faster and more frequently than steam systems. These were medium-voltage DC linear induction rail systems, powered by the ship’s integrated electric propulsion (IEP) from four gas turbines and two steam turbines.

Senior Captain Li gave the go-ahead. “First wave: J-15T, CAT 1. KJ-600 AEW, CAT 2. Fifth-gen J-35s, CAT 3. Priority intercept. Clear deck.”

3. Silent Launches, Roaring War

The J-15T, tail number 301, locked into Catapult 1. The pilot, Lt. Col. Song Yu, acknowledged command over encrypted Type 109 comms.

On the launch console, a deck officer input the launch profile: “Configuration heavy, fuel max, dual PL-15, dual KD-88.”

A short buzz. The linear motor ramped.

WHOOSH — without the scream of steam or hiss of hydraulics, the fighter was flung off the deck at 200 knots in under 2 seconds. It cleared the bow cleanly, climbing toward the American radar horizon.

The KJ-600, a twin-turboprop AEW aircraft, followed next. The EMALS system precisely adjusted the electromagnetic pulse to accommodate the heavier mass and lower tolerance frame, something Chinese engineers had struggled with in early trials. The successful launch marked its combat debut, extending the PLA's sensor range and CEC (Cooperative Engagement Capability) in the air.

Then came the stealth fighters — J-35 prototypes, fully armed and link-fed by onboard AI battle systems. Their diamond-cut bodies shimmered under the carrier lights, and with each launch, the ship grew quieter — the air wing had left the nest.

4. Deck Under Pressure: Mid-Operation Reloading and EMCON Shift

With the alpha strike airborne, the carrier entered EMCON Delta, reducing its own radar and comms profile. The flight deck transitioned to a reload cycle. Missile elevators brought up replacement payloads. While EMALS rested briefly to cool magnetic coils, damage control drills activated — two missile impacts had hit escort ship Type 052DL Nanchang, reminding all that the battlefield was fluid.

Below deck, Type 346A S-band radar operators worked with AI-assisted coordination suites to update intercept vectors. Underwater sonar reported enemy subs moving closer — it would only be a matter of time before torpedoes arrived.

5. Recovery Under Fire: Arresting Wires and Emergency Procedures

The first J-15 returned with visible panel damage. Despite the aircraft’s weight imbalance and injured gear, Deck Boss Captain Zhou Hu ordered a recovery attempt. The Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) equivalent, code-named “Jinglong Arrestor System”, was still under trial status but had no choice.

On approach, the pilot called: “Glidepath unstable. Request landing window clearance.”

“You are cleared. Arrestor Line 2 ready. Braking curve adjusted.”

At 270 km/h, the fighter snagged Arrestor Cable 2 — an electromagnetic braking unit absorbed the load, using non-linear resistor arrays and real-time telemetry adjustment. The aircraft stopped short in 2.8 seconds. The pilot emerged, bruised but alive.

Four other aircraft cycled back in 3-minute intervals, even as U.S. F/A-18s approached from the east. Fujian’s Type 1130 CIWS and HQ-10 point-defense missiles locked on. A J-35, returning from a failed bombing run, dumped its load and accelerated for a go-around. AAG adapted dynamically, slowed for a lighter aircraft, and caught it without stress.

6. Counterstrike Protocol: Return to Deck Ops

After a quick strike damage report, the air wing reloaded. A pair of J-15s were quickly turned around with external YJ-91 anti-radiation missiles, targeted at U.S. Aegis radar assets. With plasma stealth coatings repaired, the EMALS line reactivated for rapid scramble.

This time, an Unmanned Wingman (Hongdu GJ-11 derivative) was also launched — a low-RCS stealth UCAV, its instructions encrypted via laser datalink from CIC. EMALS easily adjusted to its lighter launch weight, and the drone vanished into the sky in near silence.

7. The Red Flag Debrief: The Learning Begins

In the briefing theater, Captain Li Tao stood over a holographic map of the Philippine Sea battlespace. The political commissar, engineering officers, EMALS systems team, and flight leaders all gathered.

“We achieved a 92% successful launch rate. EMALS required a 4-minute cooling pause after third J-15 launch but recovered. Arrestor systems adapted dynamically even during aircraft asymmetry. One failed tailhook catch was resolved by alternate wire."

He pointed to the intercepted telemetry: “F-35s are executing wide orbit patterns — their standoff tactics require our AEW&C to live longer. Protect the KJ-600s. Next sortie, full drone-screen escort.”

Engineering officers reported:

“EMALS coils show heat wear after 18 launches. Recommending crewed monitoring during extended ops. Arrestor electromagnets held all stress tests even with fluctuating sink rates.”

Finally, a pilot spoke up:

“We weren’t expecting to go head-to-head with the Ford on day three. But the Fujian held. She launched us clean. She caught us dirty. And she’s still moving.”

The carrier that had once been doubted as a paper tiger had entered the war not just as a platform — but as the spear tip of China’s modern naval projection.

8. Conclusion 

“Dragon’s Arc: Warflight from the Fujian” offers a vivid and technically grounded depiction of modern naval warfare from China’s perspective, highlighting the operational debut of the Fujian, China’s first EMALS-equipped aircraft carrier. Set amid realistic wartime pressure, the narrative showcases the carrier’s electromagnetic launch systems, advanced arresting gear, and integration of manned and unmanned aircraft, revealing how China’s naval aviation has evolved into a serious rival to U.S. carrier power. More than just a symbol, the Fujian represents a shift toward strategic, high-tech sea control. The story underscores a critical truth of next-generation warfare: dominance will be earned not by sheer firepower, but by how well systems, people, and tactics come together in combat. 

Note: This story is entirely fictional and does not reflect any real-life events, military operations, or policies. It is a work of creative imagination, crafted solely for the purpose of entertainment engagement. All details and events depicted in this narrative are based on fictional scenarios and have been inspired by open-source, publicly available media. This content is not intended to represent any actual occurrences and is not meant to cause harm or disruption.