China's Home-made Aircraft Carrier Ready For Launch, To Enter Service in 2 Years

China’s home-made aircraft carrier, the Type 001A is ready for launch but it entry into service will take a further two years as the ship will be outfitted with weapons and systems before sea trials are held.

State-owned China Mil website reported quoting China Central Television (CCTV) that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Type 001A class aircraft carrier's scaffold has been removed and red undercoat has been painted below the ship's waterline in Dalian, Liaoning Province.

After launch, weapons and equipment, including the radar system, air defense system and communications system will be outfitted on the carrier. After this, the carrier and aircraft on it will be subjected to extensive sea trials which involves aircraft landing and take-off from it deck.

China Mil quoted Li Jie, a naval military expert, as saying. "It will take about one to two years to carry out functional debugging of its devices, weapons and equipment. The new aircraft carrier can begin sea trials by early 2019."