Third carrier step closer to service

China's homegrown CNS Fujian, the nation's third aircraft carrier, is now one step closer to entering service as it has begun mooring trials, an important step to test its system capability.

The carrier, which was unveiled in mid-June in a Shanghai port, "is conducting a mooring test" in accordance with plans, according to a China Central Television video released on Friday evening, which summarized the remarkable development of the People's Liberation Army Navy in the past decade.

The mooring test is mainly tasked with verifying whether the carrier's mechanical and electrical equipment achieves designed performance goals, which involve tens of thousands of pieces of onboard equipment and systems, said a veteran researcher with the PLA Navy, who asked to remain anonymous.

"The trial is a significant process that will take the carrier one step closer to its future service," he said, adding that the duration of the process depends on actual progress.

After finishing the mooring test, the carrier will undergo sea trials to comprehensively test its overall capabilities and specific equipment, said the researcher.

CNS Fujian is the nation's second domestically developed aircraft carrier following CNS Shandong, and will have a greater combat capability than its two predecessors, Shandong and CNS Liaoning, since the ship will use an electromagnetic catapult to launch fixed-wing aircraft, according to the PLA Navy.