China’s PLA Achieves Major Milestones in Combat Capability Modernization
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has announced significant progress in combat capability development, with the Navy completing its “aircraft carrier five-piece set” of carrier-based aircraft and the Fujian aircraft carrier entering service, according to a front-page report published June 5 in the PLA Daily and republished by People’s Daily. The comprehensive update, spanning new operational concepts, new equipment deployments, and new capability enhancements, comes as the PLA accelerates toward its centenary modernization goal of 2027.
The Carrier Five-Piece Set
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the PLA Navy has successfully equipped all five key carrier-based aircraft types: stealth fighter jets, multi-purpose catapult-launched fighters, fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft, fixed-wing electronic warfare aircraft, and anti-submarine helicopters. As China Military Online reported, the achievement “marks an important milestone in the accelerated transformation of the PLA Navy and serves as a vivid microcosm of the leapfrog development of our military’s combat capability construction in the new era.”
This development brings China closer to a fully capable carrier air wing comparable to those operated by the United States Navy, significantly enhancing the PLA’s power projection capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
New Equipment and Platforms
The PLA’s equipment modernization drive has accelerated across all domains. The Fujian (Type 003) aircraft carrier, China’s first vessel equipped with electromagnetic catapult launch systems (EMALS), has been officially commissioned. Meanwhile, the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan has completed its maiden sea trial, signaling the potential addition of a new class of warship capable of launching fixed-wing aircraft.
Additional platforms unveiled in recent months include the J-35A stealth fighter, which performed complex maneuvers at the Zhuhai Airshow, the KJ-600 carrier-based early warning aircraft, and the Type 100 main battle tank. According to the PLA Daily report, “a large number of independently innovated, world-advanced new equipment is accelerating the formation of actual combat capability — from aircraft carrier formations to aerial sharp blades, from new army sharp tools to intelligent individual soldier equipment.”
Training and Doctrine Evolution
Beyond hardware, the PLA is implementing significant doctrinal and training reforms. The 83rd Group Army has introduced joint air-ground training for new officers, while the Tibet Military District is employing intelligent algorithm-based high-altitude warfare paradigms. Virtual-reality integrated simulation training centers are being established to enable cross-domain, multi-service coordination.
The Eastern Theater Command continues to conduct regular joint exercises featuring multi-service integration and domain-wide deterrence, reflecting enhanced readiness regarding potential Taiwan contingency scenarios.
Defense Budget Context
China’s 2026 defense budget stands at approximately 1.91 trillion yuan (~$277 billion), representing a 7% increase from 2025. As China Daily reported, this marks the 11th consecutive year of single-digit growth. External analysts, however, suggest the actual figure may be significantly higher. The Pentagon’s most recent report on China’s military development estimated that the 2024 budget was likely 32-63% above the officially announced figure, as Defense News noted.
Strategic Implications
The PLA’s rapid fielding of advanced platforms — including stealth fighters, EMALS-equipped carriers, and next-generation early warning aircraft — narrows the technology gap with U.S. forces and shifts the military balance in the Indo-Pacific. The emphasis on “system-of-systems” warfare concepts and intelligent algorithm-based operations reflects the PLA’s adaptation to informationized and intelligentized warfare doctrines.
The comprehensive progress report, published on the same day the Sichuan completed its sea trials, appears timed to demonstrate momentum toward the PLA’s 2027 centenary goal, which was reaffirmed at the 20th Fourth Plenum of the Communist Party in January 2026.
What to Watch
Key developments to monitor include the operational readiness status of the Fujian carrier strike group, the potential commissioning timeline for the Type 076 Sichuan, and continued fielding of the J-35A across multiple carriers. External assessments from the U.S. Department of Defense and regional allies will provide independent verification of the PLA’s self-reported progress.
As the PLA Daily’s editor’s note summarized: “Under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s thinking on strengthening the military, the people’s army anchors on high-quality development, advances warfare, construction, and preparedness as an integrated whole, and comprehensively enhances the hard capability to win future wars.”