Progress Report About China's Aircraft Carrier To be Presented at Upcoming CPC Congress

A progress report about China's home-made aircraft carrier, designated 002 will be made at the upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) showing the importance the CPC attaches to indigenous defence technology development.

The carrier, whose manufacturer the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corp (DSIC), a subsidiary of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) had announced earlier that the vessels would be completed ahead of schedule.

Hu Wenming, the head of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation who has chaired the research and development of the Type 001A carrier, said the "key project" team has completed tasks ahead of schedule.

Zhang Ye, a research fellow at the PLA Naval Research Institute, told the Global Times that if the Type 001A can start its sea trials before the event, which is the last stage prior to turning the warship over to the navy, it would mark a huge step forward in China's development of a stronger navy.

China has successfully tested the Type 001A's power system and the carrier will undergo a mooring test in September ahead of schedule, meaning that the ship's power system is all set, and Zhang said he believed part of the mooring test has already started even during the power test, so the mooring test period could be shorter than expected.

The sea trials will include an even more comprehensive performance test, which would cover the propelling and communications systems under different maritime conditions, which would usually take two years, Zhang said.  He added the trials would not be limited to a specific weather condition.

"The Type 001A is an improved version of the Type 001 Liaoning, so the similarity and experience can largely speed things up," said Song Zhongping, a military expert who served in the Rocket Force.