10-01-2015, 05:03 PM
Thu Oct 1, 2015 | 12:44 AM EDT
BEIJING (Reuters) -
New satellite images show China may be building its first indigenous aircraft carrier in the northeastern port of Dalian, according to IHS Jane's Defense Weekly, which has released the pictures.
Little is known about China's aircraft carrier
program, which is a state secret, though
Chinese state media have hinted new vessels
are being built.
The Pentagon, in a report earlier this year, said Beijing could build multiple aircraft carriers over the next 15 years.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry, in a report obtained by Reuters last month, said China was building two aircraft carriers that will be the same size as its sole carrier, a 60,000- tonne refurbished Soviet-era ship.
IHS Jane's said the unidentified hull was in an
advanced state of construction at a shipyard in
Dalian.
"While a conclusive identification of the hull as
an aircraft carrier cannot be made until work is
observed on the upper decks and potential
flight deck, the slow pace of assembly and
outline suggests a military hull under
construction," it said in an emailed sent on Thursday.
The dry dock is "associated" with the refit and
repair of China's existing carrier, the Liaoning,
IHS Jane's said.
The ship could also be a new class of
amphibious assault ship or helicopter carrier, it
added.
The Taiwanese report obtained by Reuters said one of the new vessels is being built in
Shanghai and the other in Dalian.
The Liaoning, a carrier bought from Ukraine in
1998 and refitted in China, has taken part in
military exercises, including in the disputed
South China Sea, but is not yet fully operational.
Successfully operating the Liaoning is the first
step in what some military experts believe will
be the deployment of Chinese-built carriers by
2020.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Ryan
Woo)
BEIJING (Reuters) -
New satellite images show China may be building its first indigenous aircraft carrier in the northeastern port of Dalian, according to IHS Jane's Defense Weekly, which has released the pictures.
Little is known about China's aircraft carrier
program, which is a state secret, though
Chinese state media have hinted new vessels
are being built.
The Pentagon, in a report earlier this year, said Beijing could build multiple aircraft carriers over the next 15 years.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry, in a report obtained by Reuters last month, said China was building two aircraft carriers that will be the same size as its sole carrier, a 60,000- tonne refurbished Soviet-era ship.
IHS Jane's said the unidentified hull was in an
advanced state of construction at a shipyard in
Dalian.
"While a conclusive identification of the hull as
an aircraft carrier cannot be made until work is
observed on the upper decks and potential
flight deck, the slow pace of assembly and
outline suggests a military hull under
construction," it said in an emailed sent on Thursday.
The dry dock is "associated" with the refit and
repair of China's existing carrier, the Liaoning,
IHS Jane's said.
The ship could also be a new class of
amphibious assault ship or helicopter carrier, it
added.
The Taiwanese report obtained by Reuters said one of the new vessels is being built in
Shanghai and the other in Dalian.
The Liaoning, a carrier bought from Ukraine in
1998 and refitted in China, has taken part in
military exercises, including in the disputed
South China Sea, but is not yet fully operational.
Successfully operating the Liaoning is the first
step in what some military experts believe will
be the deployment of Chinese-built carriers by
2020.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Ryan
Woo)
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