China's First Homemade Carrier Is Preparing for War

Asia Times

Security, Asia

The unnamed carrier was seen moving out of Dalian shipyard for sea trials.

The Beijing-based Global Times has said the first locally made carrier, not yet christened, is likely to be ready for combat “within two years” after its expected delivery to the navy by the end of this year.

Photos and video clips appearing online since Monday morning confirm that China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier has started its maiden voyage.

The date of the launch was no surprise – Monday is the day the People’s Liberation Army Navy was established.

The yet-to-be-named vessel set off from its berth at Dalian Shipyard in northeast China, where Liaoning, the country’s first carrier, underwent a seven-year retrofit after a hulk was bought from Ukraine. The latter has now begun service as China’s first seagoing airbase.

Liaoning provincial maritime department gazetted a no-entry zone last Friday, barring ships from entering roughly 1,500 square kilometers of water in the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Dalian from April 20 to 28.

The Beijing-based Global Times has said the first locally made carrier, not yet christened, is likely to be ready for combat “within two years” after its expected delivery to the navy by the end of this year.

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Pictures posted online show that scaffolding around the new carrier has been removed, with an active phased-array radar system clearly visible on the bridge. The flight deck and curled-up bow had also been cleared of items.