Chinese Aircraft Carrier Conducts Landing, Takeoff Tests

China’s first domestically-developed aircraft carrier, Type 001A has completed sea trials involving landing and takeoff tests, according to the Chinese media.

The carrier had embarked on its sixth sea trial on May 25. It moored back to its dock at the Dalian Shipyard, Northeast China's Liaoning Province on Friday morning, reports wenweipo.com.

Images of the Type 001A carrier showed tyre prints, indicating that landing and takeoff tests of the fighter aircraft on the carrier had been carried out, Global Times reported citing images released by China’s image service provider IC.

“Another possibility could be the aircraft having conducted touch and go landings; which means, to land and take off from the deck without stopping,” a military expert told Global Times.

“Either way, tyre prints indicates that the Type 001A carrier is one step closer to its combat readiness and commissioning,” the expert further added.

The warship is said to have undergone testing of its avionics, radar and communication systems in previous trials. Electronic warfare version of the J-15 warplane and a Z-18 helicopter were spotted on board the Type 001A as it embarked on the sea trial in March, according to reports published during that month.

After the completion of its fifth sea trial in March, the Type 001A stayed at in the Dalian Shipyard and underwent outfitting works including flight deck painting and conducted a replenishment drill within the shipyard with the supply ship Hulunhu in late April, media reported.