China’s 1st domestically built aircraft carrier enters service

China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier has been delivered to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

The commissioning ceremony took place at the naval base in Sanya, Hainan, on December 17, 2019, China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC) said.

On the occasion, the newbuilding has been named Shandong by Chinese officials.

Launched in 2017, the ship was built at the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, a subsidiary of CSSC.

With a displacement of 70,000 tons, Shandong features a length of 315 meters and a beam of 75 meters.

Shandong (Type 001A) is joining the country’s first aircraft carrier Liaoning – purchased by China from Ukraine in 1998 after the break-up of the Soviet Union. In 2017, China also started works on its third aircraft carrier.

The country reportedly plans to operate at least six aircraft carriers by 2035, with four of them to be nuclear-powered. This is part of China’s efforts to compete with its biggest naval rival, the United States.

Naval Today Staff