China building next aircraft carrier

Chinese experts said China is on course to build 5-6 aircraft carriers. While the first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, is a refitted Soviet-era ship, the second is being built on the same model with more advanced facilities and is likely to enter service in 2020. The latest carrier, under construction at Shanghai, is based on US models, staterun Global Times reported on Tuesday. 

Based on information released by Chinese defence ministry, the second Type 001A carrier being built at the northeast Dalian port uses the ski-jump technology for aircraft to take off, like the first carrier Liaoning rather than a more advanced catapult technology used by American carriers. 

The second aircraft carrier is expected to have a displacement of 50,000 tonnes. China is looking into catapult technology for the third Type 002 carrier being built in Shanghai, the daily quoted Li Jie, a naval military expert, as saying. 

“In other words, 002 is entirely different from Liaoning (001) and 001A, and it will look like a US aircraft carrier rather than a Russian one,” Li added. 

Official Chinese media have earlier reported about the possibility of a third carrier but it is the first time they have announced that it was being built. Most advanced carriers use the Electromagnetic Catapult System, or Electromagnetic launcher (EML), to launch fighter jets, but China is also testing steam catapults, Li said.