China’s 3rd aircraft carrier delays launch

Chinese aircraft carrier was scheduled to launch in April, but the blockade in Shanghai has affected the plan, SCMP newspaper reported on April 17.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai has stalled China’s plans to launch a third aircraft carrier, sources confirmed to the Hong Kong-based newspaper.

According to the announcement, the ship was expected to be ready to launch this month but the schedule was affected due to problems with the supply chain.

“The plan encountered delays because the pandemic spreading in Shanghai delayed the shipping of some key components,” said an unnamed source.

The source added that “Shanghai shipyard is understaffed because almost all local state-owned enterprises need to mobilize a certain amount of manpower to help with the ongoing anti-pandemic campaign.”

China’s third aircraft carrier, commonly known as Type 003, has been built at the Jiangnan shipyard on Changxing Island, Shanghai since 2017.

According to SCMP, the aircraft carrier is expected to be launched on April 23, the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the Chinese navy. Last year, Chinese media reported that the aircraft carrier is expected to be ready by 2022.

Beijing currently has two aircraft carriers: the Liaoning, which was built like a Soviet ship, and the Shandong, which was launched in 2017.

China’s Type 003 aircraft carrier will be equipped with three different electromagnetic launchers from the launchers of the old generation of aircraft carriers.

The source also shared with SCMP that the COVID-19 outbreak has also slowed down the construction of two supply ships of the Chinese navy.

China is dealing with the biggest COVID-19 outbreak in the past few years that has led to blockades and mass testing.

Officials Shanghai loosened some regulations for people last week and on April 16 issued instructions for some businesses to reopen.