Sea trial of aircraft carrier attained objectives
Updated: 2011-08-31 18:44
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
BEIJING - The maiden sea trial of China's refitted aircraft carrier "has attained the anticipated objectives," a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun said at a regular press briefing that the carrier has returned to the shipyard where refurbishing and testing will continue, but did not elaborate on the "anticipated objectives."
After the maiden seal trial, China's first aircraft carrier and a ship bearing hull number 88 return to the place where it had been anchored near the carrier's berth in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province, August 14, 2011. [Photo/CFP] |
The vessel, former Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag, has been totally refitted for its new role as a research and training platform in China. The vessel departed from a port in Dalian, a city in northeast China's Liaoning Province on August 10.
China's People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLA Navy) inshore defense strategy and the defensive nature of the country's national defense policy will not change despite the country's development of advanced weaponry, Yang said at the news briefing.
The building of an aircraft carrier is a long and complex project. In the building process, there will be a series of scientific research experiments and training exercises, and such activities are "routine and normal," Yang said.
Follow-up work on the aircraft carrier will be fixed based on training and scientific research needs, according to the spokesperson.
The vessel is an Admiral Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier which measures 304.5 meters long and 37 meters wide, with a displacement of 58,500 metric tons.
The Soviet Union began construction on the vessel in 1985. Construction of the ship stopped in 1992, leaving the vessel structurally complete, but lacking electronics.
After the Soviet Union disbanded in 1991, Ukraine took control of the ship. The ship went unused, maintained, and, eventually, stripped.
Since March 2002, the vessel has quietly berthed in the Port of Dalian with its hull and deck painted PLA Navy grey.
On July 27, the Ministry confirmed China's aircraft carrier program, emphasizing that the carrier was intended solely for "scientific research, experiments and training."
Currently, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Spain, Italy, India, Brazil and Thailand, operate a total of 21 active-service aircraft carriers.
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force currently has two 18,000-metric ton Hyuga-class helicopter carriers, although the warships are classified by Japan as "helicopter destroyers."
Once the still-unnamed carrier is delivered to the PLA Navy, China will be the last among the permanent members of the UN Security Council to possess an aircraft carrier.
Related Stories
Aircraft carrier no threat: ex-defense chief 2011-08-21 19:29
China's future aircraft carrier no source of tension 2011-08-12 08:34
Maiden run for aircraft carrier 2011-08-12 11:24
China's refitted aircraft carrier starts sea trial 2011-08-10 07:58
Hot Topics
Li Na FIFA Novak Djokovic Liu Xiang Tiger Woods Yao Ming Rafa Nadal Ding Junhui Dirk Nowitzki Lin Dan Lionel Messi Sang Lan Maria Sharapova Wimbledon Barcelona
Editor's Picks
Worship of Confucius ahead for new school |
Hu reaffirms stance on South China Sea |
Flood inundates New Jersey after Hurricane Irene |
Bank employees strike in Seoul |
IAAF will not rush to change rule that ousted Bolt |
Daegu 2011 IAAF World Championships - Day 5 |