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Shanghai’s Covid-19 outbreak stalls plans for China’s third aircraft carrier
- The ribbon was expected to be cut on vessel this month but lockdown has delayed delivery of some essential components, sources say
- Staff from the shipbuilder have also been redeployed to combat the coronavirus
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Shanghai’s coronavirus lockdown has slowed China’s shipbuilding plans and may affect the launch of the country’s third aircraft carrier, sources said.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy had been widely expected to launch the new carrier around the navy’s 73rd anniversary, on April 23.
“But the plan faces delay as the rampant pandemic in Shanghai has delayed the transport of some key components,” one of the sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said.
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Construction of the Type 003 has been under way at the Jiangnan Shipyard on Shanghai’s Changxing Island since 2017 and was expected to be ready for launch early this year.
Recent satellite image from Google Earth showed construction of the nearly 320-metre-long platform is almost completed.
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According to the photos, covers have been put over the vessel’s three catapults, indicating they are ready, but the two elevators to lift aircraft from the carrier’s hangars have not been fitted fully.
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