New Chinese Navy carrier Shandong commissioned

摘要

THE PEOPLE'S Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned into service its second aircraft carrier, Shandong (CV-17), in a ceremony at Sanya naval base on the southern island of Hainan, on December 17. Launched in April 2017, the 65,000-ton Type 002 warship is China's first carrier of indigenous construction. Initial sea trials began in April 2018 and a total of nine at-sea phases were completed before commissioning, the latest in November, during which the Shandong passed through the Taiwan Strait and entered the South China Sea. The warship joins the PLAN'S sole operational aircraft carrier, the Type 001 Liaoning (CV-16), the retrofitted former Soviet Navy Varyag, which was commissioned in 2012. Both vessels are equipped with a short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) launch system, with air wings based around up to 24 Shenyang J-15 fighters.