Portaaviones chino en pruebas de mar

Chinese Type 001A aircraft carrier conducted takeoff and landing tests

Navy Recognition


China's first domestically-developed aircraft carrier, the Type 001A (yet to be named), has completed sea trials that were involving takeoff and landing tests, according to Chinese media.


The Type 001A aircraft carrier of the PLA Navy (Picture Source: YouTube)

The aircraft carrier took off on its 6th sea trials on May 25 and moored back to its homeport, at the Dalian Shipyard, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, on Friday, May 31 in the morning.

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. It could also be that the aircraft conducted touch and go landings, meaning that they landed and took off from de deck without stopping on it. Either way, it appears that the Type 001A comes closer and closer to its commissioning.

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.