Weapons Systems Test Planned in Chinese Aircraft Carrier’s Second Trails

Weaponry and equipment test will be in focus as China's first domestically built aircraft carrier Type 001A embarked on its second sea trial on Sunday.

However, the all-important tests of aircraft and helicopter landing-and-take off would be tested in subsequent trials; various experts were quoted as saying by Global Times.

The aircraft carrier set out from the Dalian Shipyard in Northeast China's Liaoning Province on Sunday morning after a display of fireworks, according to videos and photos on Sina Weibo on Sunday, Global Times reported.

"The carrier's second sea trial will focus on dealing with issues that arose during the first," Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Sunday.

While testing the ships' power systems is the main focus, the second sea trial will involve heavier payloads and other system diagnostics including command, communication and damage management, Song said.

Zhang Ye, a research fellow at the PLA Naval Research Institute, told the Global Times on Sunday that the second sea trial will also focus on running tests of the aircraft carrier's weaponry and equipment. "Radars, the navigation system and main weapons will be tested," Zhang said.

The Type 001A's first sea trial was from May 13 to 18. It returned on May 23 to the Dalian Shipyard to finish outfitting work.Future sea trials will involve testing fighter jets and helicopters on board the aircraft carrier before being delivered to the PLA Navy, according to Zhang.

In addition, China's first Type 055 missile destroyer with a 10,000 ton displacement made its maiden voyage on Friday.

The two ships are likely to be delivered to the PLA Navy around the same time with the destroyer serving as an escort vessel to the new carrier, significantly increasing the group's combat capability, Song said.