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.
“While major headway has been made on the Type 003, there are several signs to watch for before the carrier slips into the waters of the surrounding Yangtze River,” it said.
The vessel’s two starboard elevators are not installed.
“In the coming weeks, radars may also be outfitted on the vessel’s island and weapon systems moved onto the sponsons,” it said. “Before launch, the large hull blocks of a container ship immediately behind the carrier will need to be moved out of the way.”
China has embarked on years of modernisation efforts for its military. Chinese President Xi Jinping had vowed to complete military modernisation by 2035, with a focus on improving the PLA Navy.
The country began building its third aircraft carrier in 2016, but – like its existing two – it will not be nuclear-powered. Development of a fourth carrier, designed to be nuclear-powered, is under way.
The Type 003’s size is close to that of the US Kitty Hawk class, which had four catapult-assisted launch channels.
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Even though the report estimated the vessel could be launched in the coming three to six months, there are technical challenges. It would still be years before it is officially commissioned into the navy and acquires initial operating capability.
The US Department of Defence said in an annual assessment released last week that the carrier was expected to be fully operational by 2024.
The CSIS report said construction of other military vessels in the shipyard had slowed down.
