China military: Type 001A aircraft carrier starts more advanced testing as sea trials begin in earnest
First home-built carrier starts serious business of testing equipment as countdown to making vessel combat ready
China’s first home-grown aircraft carrier is likely to be carrying out more advanced tests as the next phase of its second sea trial begins, military experts said.
An area of about 1,300 sq km near a shipyard in the northeastern province of Liaoning, where the Type 001A vessel was built, has been restricted to other shipping for eight days beginning on Friday.
The Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration did not give further details, but military observers said the area in the Yellow Sea had been reserved for the aircraft carrier.
On Thursday, the Chinese defence ministry said the vessel had recently left the dock of Dalian shipyard in recent days and was travelling to the area to carry out offshore trials.
“This sea trail will mainly test equipment … following a normal working schedule,” ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a regular press conference on Thursday, adding that construction work and previous tests had gone smoothly and achieved their expected purpose.
Photos and videos posted online showed the 65,000-tonne vessel leaving the Dalian shipyard on Sunday towed by several tugboats, three months after its maiden voyage in May.