Why hasn’t China’s third aircraft carrier been launched yet?

The People’s Liberation Army Navy of China may launch aircraft carrier on April 23 to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the navy’s founding. However, a newspaper source South China Morning Post (SCMP) said on April 17 that the plan was delayed because of the widespread Covid-19 epidemic in Shanghai, “delaying the shipping of some important components”.

Construction of the Type 003 has been underway at the Jiangnan Shipyard on Shanghai’s Changxing Island since 2017, and is expected to be ready to launch early this year.

Recent satellite images from Google Earth show that construction of the nearly 320-meter-long platform is almost complete.

According to the photos, visors had been covered over three of the ship’s catapults, indicating they were ready, but the two lifts to lift planes from the carrier’s hangar were still incomplete.

Recent satellite images show that the construction of the Type 003 is almost complete. Photo: Google Earth

Unlike the two aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong, Type 003 has a flat flight deck equipped with three sophisticated electromagnetic catapults, similar to the most advanced aircraft launch systems in the world. Liaoning and Shandong have jump launch ramps, an older technology.

Shanghai, the world’s largest container port, is grappling with a shipping backlog as it tries to contain a week-long severe Covid-19 outbreak through a combination of lockdowns and lockdowns. mass testing, a countermeasure known as “dynamic Covid-19 zero”.

Newspaper’s source SCMP “Indeed, the Shanghai shipyard lacks manpower as almost every local state-owned enterprise needs to transfer a certain amount of manpower to support the ongoing anti-epidemic campaign.”

Type 003 has a flat flight deck equipped with three complex electromagnetic catapults. Photo: Google Earth

According to China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), the aforementioned factory has contributed to the fight against Covid-19 since March 22, building three field hospitals with more than 4,400 beds on Changxing island within a period of March 22. a week.

In addition, the source added that the Covid-19 epidemic will also push back the plan to build two supply ships for the navy. “Work on the construction of two naval supply ships will only begin when the aircraft carrier yard is empty, but for now, everything is at an impasse,” the source said.

A source close to the Chinese military said the navy is planning a large-scale launching ceremony for a third aircraft carrier, at least on par with 2017 for Shandong, its first aircraft carrier. The first is based in China.

A second source said: “A big ceremony requires a lot of people. Gathering so many people in the confined space of an aircraft carrier is too risky and difficult considering the easy spread of the Omicron variant. star”.

The first source said the new aircraft carrier will likely be named Jiangsu, following the protocol for naming ships after coastal provinces, starting from north to south.

China’s first aircraft carrier (Liaoning), is by far the only Beijing carrier with initial operational capability, or basic operational readiness. According to the sheet SCMPno official reason has been given as to why China’s second aircraft carrier (Shandong), has not yet reached combat readiness.

Both are conventionally powered carriers – as is the Type 003 – while the country’s fourth, which began construction last year, is likely to be powered by nuclear reactors. Nuclear reaction.

China plans to build at least four carrier battle groups by 2030 to become a modern “blue water navy”, the world’s second largest after the US.