Name Type 001A In service 2018 est - | Preceded by Kuznetsov class Building 1 | |
Builders Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Operators People's Liberation Army Navy | ||
The Type 001A aircraft carrier is the first aircraft carrier class independently designed and developed for the People's Liberation Army Navy. The first Type 001A aircraft carrier is being constructed by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company. Construction started in 2015. The Type 001A is an improved design based on the Type 001 aircraft carrier, and also uses a ski-jump bow flight deck.
History
On 27 July 2015, a report of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation stated that the corporation is "go well with key projects represented by aircraft carrier and nuclear submarine", which is the first time that the builder mentioned the construction of the Type 001A class.
On 31 December 2015, a spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defense confirmed that China is designing and building its second aircraft carrier. It will have a displacement of around 70,000 tonnes. The design and building has been based on experience, research and training from the Soviet built Liaoning, though there are some differences, such as for sensors/radar.
On 26 September 2016, pictures of the Type 001A carrier under construction were leaked on the web. The pictures show the carrier in its final stage of assembly.
The carrier is expected to be conventionally powered and use a ski-jump.
Launch is expected in early 2017, with commissioning in 2018 or 2019.