Chinese shipbuilder CSIC races to get aircraft carriers fully operational
- Liaoning is undergoing a revamp at the shipyard in Dalian, while the Type 001A is expected to start a fourth sea trial in the coming days
- Sources say the company is under pressure to deliver the vessels on schedule, especially after general manager was sacked
State-owned shipbuilder CSIC is working against the clock to get its two aircraft carriers ready for military use, and in time for 70th anniversary celebrations marking the founding of the People’s Republic of China in October next year.
At present, both warships are being worked on at China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation’s shipyard in Dalian, in northeastern Liaoning province.
The Liaoning, the country’s first and only operational aircraft carrier, is undergoing a revamp – its first major upgrade since it was commissioned in 2012.
Meanwhile, China’s first domestically developed aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, has yet to go into service but is expected to begin a fourth sea trial in the coming days.
Photos circulating on the internet show two aircraft on its deck, along with arresting gear that is used to decelerate aircraft as they land, indicating the warship is being readied for another sea trial.
