Another sea trial for China’s first home-grown aircraft carrier ‘suggests technical problems’

Type 001A heads out for more testing in north of Yellow Sea, with observers saying issues may have been identified that need to be fixed

Take-off and landing tests were conducted during four-day sailing last week

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China’s Type 001A aircraft carrier leaves the shipyard in Dalian on Thursday for a four-day sea trial. It is undergoing more testing this week. Photo: ImagineChina

Published: 10:47pm, 6 Aug 2019Updated: 4:20am, 7 Aug 2019

China’s first home-grown aircraft carrier is undergoing another sea trial, straight after four days of testing, suggesting that the PLA Navy may have identified technical problems requiring immediate attention, military observers said.

The latest sea trial of the 65,000-tonne Type 001A was indirectly confirmed by a “no-sail zone” notice issued by the Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration on Monday. Ships have been warned not to enter a 3,400 sq km area in the north of the Yellow Sea for safety reasons.

The “no-sail zone” – near Dalian port, where the warship was built – is almost the same area used for last week’s sea trial. A military source said the area was chosen to facilitate operations and emergency support.

Although the previous sea trial was not officially announced, the Type 001A was seen returning to Dalian port on Sunday after completing the testing.

Song Zhongping, a military commentator for Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television, said the back-to-back sea trials indicated there could be technical issues with the warship.

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