China’s Domestically Built Aircraft Carrier on Eighth Sea Trial

China's domestically built Type 001A aircraft carrier has embarked on its eighth sea tria local media reported based on online photos of its departure from its base in Dalian Shipyard in Northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The trail is the last before its induction into the Chinese Navy, local military experts said. The Type 001A aircraft carrier has in previous trials tested aircraft landing and take off besides its communication systems.

The eighth sea trial could examine if the warship is ready for final delivery, and if problems encountered in previous trials have been eliminated.

A navigation restriction notice released by the Maritime Safety Administration of China on Saturday said a military mission is scheduled from Monday evening to October 22 in the Bohai Sea, which also led military observers to believe the aircraft carrier is on a sea trial, according to similar notices released in previous sea trials,” Global times reported.

The Type 001A is expected to the core of a battle-group intended to flex Chinese naval muscle in the South China sea.