China’s Fujian carrier shows signs of heavier flight deck activity after latest sea trial
The tyre marks may be signs of ‘touch-and-go’ landings and it is not known if the ship’s advanced catapult has been tested yet
Analysts said those marks were probably the result of “touch-and-go” landings – where planes touch down on the flight deck and then take off again immediately – conducted during its sixth and latest sea trial.
They had yet to see clear signs of catapult-assisted launches – a critical milestone for demonstrating the carrier’s advanced capabilities.
China’s third carrier returned to port on Tuesday after its latest 11-day sea trial, according to images circulating on Chinese social media.
The photos appear to show signs of heavier use compared with the previous trial last month, with more tyre marks on the deck that suggest more landings were carried out this time.
The marks may have been either the result of a touch-and-go landing or a full landing where the plane is brought to a halt, according to military analyst Fu Qianshao, but he said there was no evidence to confirm the latter manoeuvre had been practised.
