China’s First Domestically-Built Aircraft Carrier Completes Sea Trials

China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier has concluded its maiden sea trial on Friday, and is returning to Dalian Shipyard in northeast China's Liaoning Province, according to reports by Xinhua.

The five-day sea trial, starting from May 13, tested the carrier's equipment, and has achieved the desired aim.

The PLA Daily had reported that the first sea trial mainly focus on testing the reliability and stability of the ship's power systems.

It is also China's second aircraft carrier after the Liaoning, a refitted Soviet Union-made carrier put into commission in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2012.

Various media reports said a radar system and some defensive weapons have been installed on the ship's deck.

These likely include the Hongqi-10 surface-to-air missile system and Type 1130 close-in weapon system. Complete outfitting of the ship is expected to take another year.

CSIC Chairman Hu Wenming told China Central Television that the new carrier is a conventional power medium-size aircraft carrier of between 40,000-60,000 tons.