The Shandong, the first aircraft carrier built in China and the second in the Navy of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), arrived in Hong Kong this Thursday (3).
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The vessel, which will dock at the city’s port for five days, will host a series of tours and cultural exchanges during its visit.
The Shandong is being escorted by the missile destroyers Yanan and Zhanjiang, along with the missile frigate Yuncheng.
Its home port is located in Hainan, southern China, where the aircraft carrier is assigned to the Southern Theater Command of the Navy, which operates mainly near the South China Sea.
Commissioned in December 2019 and officially designated Type 002, the Shandong marked the beginning of China’s twin aircraft carrier era.
Its counterpart, the Liaoning aircraft carrier, was rebuilt from a Soviet Kuznetsov-class ship and delivered to the PLA in 2012.
Although more advanced, the Shandong still uses a ski-jump launch system, which takes up space with ramps that could otherwise be used to carry more aircraft.
However, the Fuijan, designated Type 003, will feature three electromagnetic catapults, allowing more room for aircraft, fuel, and munitions. It was launched in June 2022 and is currently undergoing sea trials.
The PLA plans to have six aircraft carriers by 2035, a fleet that would make China the world’s second-largest blue-water navy, after the United States.
Photo and video: Telegram @china3army. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
