China’s newly commissioned aircraft carrier Fujian is reportedly the first in the world to be equipped with an advanced anti-torpedo torpedo (ATT) system, marking a significant development in naval defense capabilities. The aircraft carrier, which entered service in November, is the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s third carrier and its first to be designed and built entirely in China.

A key feature distinguishing the Fujian from China’s earlier carriers—Liaoning and Shandong—is the installation of a six-tube 324mm lightweight torpedo launcher replacing the traditional 12-tube depth charge launchers found on its predecessors. This launcher is believed to house the ATT system, designed to provide a hard-kill defense against incoming torpedoes, a capability that, if confirmed, would represent a global first for an aircraft carrier.

The ATT system is intended to counter the significant threat posed by modern heavyweight torpedoes, particularly those launched by advanced submarine classes such as the U.S. Navy’s Seawolf-class and the under-development SSN(X). Analysts have noted that torpedoes, especially wire-guided variants, can inflict more severe damage on large surface vessels than anti-ship missiles, making effective torpedo defense a critical priority for the PLA Navy.

According to assessments published in a Chinese military journal, the Fujian’s ATT system builds on earlier demonstrations of similar technology dating back to 2016 but advances to a “world-class level” in terms of detection accuracy, reliability, and system integration. The publication highlights ongoing challenges faced by the U.S. Navy in developing comparable hard-kill anti-torpedo systems, suggesting that China may presently hold an edge in this area.

Technically, the ATT is reported to employ a combined propulsion system featuring a small rocket booster for rapid initial acceleration and a permanent magnet synchronous pump-jet thruster powered by rare earth magnets. This setup purportedly allows the interceptor torpedo to reach speeds between 50 and 60 knots within three seconds, with precise speed control and minimal noise emissions to maintain effective sonar operation.

The system’s fast response capabilities enable it to execute near-instantaneous maneuvers, including complex course adjustments and depth changes, to track and intercept highly maneuverable threat torpedoes such as the U.S. MK48. Its broadband sonar array reportedly distinguishes genuine targets from decoys at ranges of several thousand meters and can localize vulnerable components of incoming torpedoes, such as the warhead, to ensure destruction with a single hit.

Further advantages attributed to the ATT include a high-speed, two-way wireless acoustic communication link capable of supporting stealthy, reliable connections with the carrier and coordination among multiple interceptors. Its warhead reportedly utilizes directional shaped charges, similar in concept to anti-tank munitions, combined with overpressure shock waves generated by close-range explosions to rupture incoming torpedo hulls effectively.

Additionally, the system may incorporate variants using super-cavitation technology, potentially achieving speeds up to 200 knots. This capability, if operational, would further enhance the system’s ability to counter the fastest incoming torpedoes.

The deployment of this ATT system on the Fujian underscores China’s focus on strengthening the survivability of its expanding carrier fleet amid intensifying undersea threats. The development also reflects broader trends in naval warfare where integrated, multi-layered defenses against torpedoes are becoming increasingly critical for maintaining surface combatant security.