China’s first domestically produced aircraft carrier, the country’s second carrier, successfully accomplished a six-day sea trial from May 13 to 18. The carrier’s first trial focused on the reliability and stability of the carrier’s dynamic systems, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
It is expected that it will take at least two to three years of sea trials before the carrier will be battle-ready, experts said, due to China’s lack of experience in this area. However, thanks to the experience on the Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, a repurposed vessel from the ex-Soviet fleet, China now has more expertise in building aircraft carriers. Song Zhongping, a media commentator on the military, told Party paper the People’s Daily that because the Chinese military usually starts developing new-generation equipment as the previous generation is undergoing trials, it is likely that a third carrier is already under development. Military expert Liang Fang agreed, saying that China’s experience with its first two carriers will help shorten the R&D phase for the next ones, which is crucial for China to realize military modernization by 2035.
Old Version
