China's
Defense Ministry Confirmed the Construction of an Aircraft Carrier Type
001A for PLAN
Yang
Yujun, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, confirmed on December
31st that China is designing and building its second aircraft carrier
"completely on its own" a the shipyard in Dalian in northeastern
Liaoning Province. Yujun added explained during the last monthly press
briefing of 2015 that this carrier, with a displacement of 50,000 tonnes,
is designed to accommodate J-15 Flying Shark fighters and other types
of aircraft.
Latest spotter photo of Dalian shipyard (taken on December 31st 2015)
showing construction of PLAN's second aircraft carrier, Type 001A.
The
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson ended his comment on the new aircraft
carrier by saying additional information will be released gradually
as construction advances.
According to rumors, the new aircraft carrier is designated "Type
001A", and its design will be an improved variant of the Liaoning,
China's current aircraft carrier which is a Soviet design built in Ukraine.
3D model showing the current advancement of construction (as of December
25th 2015)
"This carrier will have different missions
than those for the Liaoning (the country's first aircraft carrier),"
Senior Captain Zhang Junshe with the People's Liberation Army Naval
Military Studies Research Institute told the official PLA Daily on Friday.
"We use the Liaoning to test the reliability and compatibility
of systems on carriers, and to train personnel. The second carrier will
mainly do what a genuine aircraft carrier is supposed to do: running
combat patrols and delivering humanitarian aid."
Zhang said China urgently needs a second carrier, as the country
is seeking to improve its defense systems and better safeguard national
interests.
"The PLA needs at least three aircraft carriers. When it
does, one can be on duty, one can train personnel, and the third can
receive maintenance," he said.
November 2015 satellite imagery showing Type 001A under construction at
Dalian shipyard (top).
Liaoning hull shape (to scale) is superposed in red (bottom).
Rumors of an indigeneously built aircraft carrier started
in 2015 as satellite imagery showing first large construction blocks,
then the shape of the hull of a large vessel at Dalian shipyard started
popping up.
Type 001A will feature a ski jump to launch its aircraft. Its propulsion
system, electronic systems and weapons will all be developed in China
and are expected to have better capabilities than those fitted on the
Liaoning.
It is not clear yet when Type 001A will be launched in the water. Some
sources argue it could happen as early as the Summer of 2016 while other
say it will take longer.
