China’s Shandong aircraft carrier ready for high seas test, insider says

CCTV video of life aboard massive vessel and glimpse at its technologies suggests it is ready for the next stage of its development, source close to navy says

Shandong has already conducted nine sea trails, but they were all in Bohai Bay or the South China Sea, which is relatively close to its home base, military expert says

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The Shandong aircraft carrier might soon be heading out for its first trials on the high seas. Photo: CCTV

Published: 10:19pm, 8 Apr 2021Updated: 1:12pm, 9 Apr 2021

The release of a new state media video of China’s Shandong aircraft carrier suggests the giant vessel might soon be heading out on the high seas as it continues its preparations to become combat-ready, according to a military insider.

“The Shandong will probably start its drills and training on the high seas later this year, which is a necessary step for it to achieve initial operational capability [IOC],” a source close to the navy said.

State broadcaster China Central Television released the footage on Tuesday, showing how the carrier had been continuing with its preparations despite the world being gripped by the coronavirus pandemic.

“After being handed over to the navy [from the shipbuilder], it takes at least 18 months for an aircraft carrier to achieve IOC as there are thousands of items to test and approve,” said Zhou Chenming, a researcher at the Yuan Wang military think tank in Beijing.

Lai Yijun, captain of the Shandong (left), and political commissar Song Wenjun (second left) play “carrier chess” using models of J-15 fighters. Photo: CCTV

According to the CCTV video, the Shandong, which is China’s first domestically developed aircraft carrier, features 12,000 different equipment systems. It is on course to become the navy’s second carrier with IOC status, after the Liaoning.

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