China could launch its third aircraft carrier ‘in next 3 to 6 months’
- Assessment by US think tank is based on satellite images showing changes in the vessel’s appearance
- Catapult-assisted launch capability is major leap forward, report says – although the ship is years from being commissioned into the navy
A report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington said there had been a significant shift in the appearance of the Type 003 vessel, based on satellite images taken between September 18 and October 23 at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.
“The two large openings in the vessel’s deck were sealed shut. These gaps allowed for large internal components, such as the engines and power plants, to be inserted into the hull,” the report said.
“Their closure suggests that the initial installation of major internal components has been completed.”
China’s two existing aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, rely on a less advanced ski jump-style take-off for planes, but the new one will be able to launch fixed-wing aircraft with heavy payloads and more fuel.