Northeast China (Reuters)– China launched its second aircraft carrier Wednesday morning at the Dalian shipyard, northeast China’s Liaoning Province.
The new carrier, the first built in China, was moved from a dry dock into the water at a launch ceremony that started at about 09:00.
It is China’s second aircraft carrier after “Liaoning,” a refitted Soviet Union-made carrier that was commissioned to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2012.
China began building its second carrier in November 2013. Dock construction started in March 2015.
The main body of the carrier has been completed, with equipment of the major systems installed.
Putting the carrier into water marks the progress in China’s efforts to design and build a domestic aircraft carrier.
After the launch, the new carrier will undergo equipment debugging, outfitting and comprehensive mooring trials.
The launch ceremony was attended by Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and leaders of the PLA Navy and the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.
