China's Aircraft Carrier Commences Sea Trials

Published May 13, 2018 7:02 PM by The Maritime Executive

China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier commenced sea trials on Sunday.

The yet to be named vessel was launched from Dalian Shipyard in April last year and is expected to enter service in 2020.

The new conventionally powered 50,000-ton aircraft carrier is capable of accommodating domestically-developed J-15 fighter jets. She is 315 meters (1,033 feet) long and 75 meters (246 feet) wide.

China says the new carrier’s design draws on experiences from its first carrier Liaoning bought second-hand from the Ukraine in 1998 and refitted in China. Both feature Soviet-design ski-jump bows rather than the catapult technology used for launching aircraft on U.S. aircraft carriers.

Chinese state media has indicated that the nation plans to build at least six aircraft carriers. The U.S. currently operates 10 and plans to build two more.