China’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has officially entered service, marking a major milestone for the world’s largest navy, Chinese state media reported.

Unlike China’s first two carriers, the Fujian was both designed and built domestically and features an electromagnetic catapult system capable of launching heavier aircraft, including the J-35 stealth fighter, J-15T heavy fighter, and KJ-600 early-warning plane.

President Xi Jinping presided over the commissioning ceremony on Hainan Island, emphasizing the ongoing modernization of China’s navy, which aims to be “world class” by 2049.

While China now fields three carriers, the U.S. navy, with 11 nuclear-powered carriers, remains the most advanced, as the Fujian is conventionally powered with an estimated 10,000-nautical-mile range, NBC News has reported.

The new carrier is expected to strengthen China’s operational capabilities in distant waters and could play a key role in any potential conflict over Taiwan, prompting close monitoring by neighboring countries like Japan.