Wednesday, March 22, 2023
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

China launches first domestically built aircraft carrier

by Agence France-Presse
April 26, 2017
in Navy News
2 min read
0
China launches first domestically built aircraft carrier
14
VIEWS

China has launched its first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier, state media said Wednesday, as the country seeks to transform its navy into a force capable of projecting power onto the high seas.

Beijing has embarked on an extensive project to build a “blue water” navy and modernise its two million-strong military, the world’s largest.

The country’s rapidly expanding military might includes a range of maritime defence capabilities, a fleet of attack submarines, and highly sophisticated anti-aircraft systems that prevent enemy vessels from nearing its coast.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that “all must be done” to improve the country’s battle capacities so it can “fight and win wars.”

Adorned with colourful ribbons, the Type 001A ship “transferred from dry dock into the water at a launch ceremony” in the northeastern port city of Dalian, according to official broadcaster CCTV.

The ribbon-cutting was followed by the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle on the ship’s bow.

China’s defence ministry has previously said the new carrier would displace 50,000 tonnes and use conventional rather than nuclear propulsion.

It is expected to carry China’s indigenous J-15 aircraft, along with other planes.

China is eager to show its strength in the South China Sea, where it insists on sovereignty over virtually all the resource-rich waters despite rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours.

It has extensively reclaimed reefs and installed military and other facilities including airstrips on some outcrops, dismissing an international tribunal’s ruling last year that rejected China’s claims to the disputed areas.

Symbolic event
Analysts said the ship represented a “status symbol” for Beijing in a contested region but posed little threat to advanced US carriers.

“The launch of the new aircraft carrier is primarily a symbolic event because it will take about two years for the vessel to be equipped and to make its first real tests overboard,” according to Juliette Genevaz, China researcher at the France-based Military School Strategic Research Institute.

Nevertheless, Genevaz said, it is a “technological leap” for China as it signals the development of more native aircraft carriers in the future.

The Type 001A is China’s second carrier. The first, the Liaoning, is a secondhand Soviet ship built nearly 30 years ago and commissioned in 2012 after extensive refits.

The possession of a native aircraft carrier places China among the few military powers with such vessels, including the United States, Russia and the United Kingdom.

But experts were quick to point out that China’s naval force still lags far behind that of the US, the world’s leading military power which has multiple carriers.

James Char, China military analyst at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said the new vessel will serve as more of a “status symbol” for China in the East and South China seas, where the Liaoning conducted its first live fire drill in December.

“It is highly unlikely to pose a threat to the US if you look at how advanced American aircraft carriers are,” Char said.

Users on the Weibo social network expressed delight at the launch of the Type 001A.

“This great moment will be written in the glorious history of China,” wrote one commenter.

“We are going to make a solid and important step forward into the deep sea.”

Others hoped China would soon match the capabilities of US carriers: “I really hope that we can catch up with them and then set off firecrackers to celebrate!”

Tags: aircraft carrierchinachinese navymaritime security
Previous Post

US missile defence equipment reaches S.Korea site

Next Post

US Army Orders More Q-53 Counterfire Radars from Lockheed Martin

Related Posts

Australia to get nuclear submarines in new US, British partnership

Australia to buy US nuclear subs in ambitious new pact

March 14, 2023

Australia has unveiled plans to buy up to five US nuclear-powered submarines, then build a new model with US and...

US Navy Installs Next-Gen Network on USS Ronald Reagan

Quad powers concerned over militarisation in Asian seas

March 3, 2023

The United States, Japan, India and Australia expressed concern Friday over the militarization of Asia's waters, in a veiled reference...

Next Post
AN TPQ-53 (Lockheed Martin)

US Army Orders More Q-53 Counterfire Radars from Lockheed Martin

Latest Defense News

Hwasong-17 ICBM

North Korea fires ‘long-range’ missile as S. Korea president heads to Japan

March 16, 2023
North Korea fires multiple suspected cruise missiles

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, Seoul says

March 14, 2023
Australia to get nuclear submarines in new US, British partnership

Australia to buy US nuclear subs in ambitious new pact

March 14, 2023
Su-35 Fighter Aircraft, Russian Air Force

Iran says deal reached to buy Russian fighter jets

March 13, 2023
Made in China: Saudi-Iran deal goes beyond Middle East, say analysts

Made in China: Saudi-Iran deal goes beyond Middle East, say analysts

March 13, 2023
North Korea says Kim ordered test of ‘new type’ of ICBM

North Korea adopts war deterrence measures: state media

March 13, 2023

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Ukrainian - Russian War Memes.
  • Australian Army Discussions and Updates
  • Indonesian Aero News
  • Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
  • Royal Danish Navy
  • Singapore’s DIS established
  • China - Geostrategic & Geopolitical.
  • Royal New Zealand Air Force
  • Foreign Interference in Canada
  • NZDF General discussion thread
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com