国产航母(guóchǎn hángmǔ):Chinese-made aircraft carrier

On Wednesday, China officially launched its first completely self-made aircraft carrier in Dalian, Liaoning province, which is a milestone for its navy.

Work on the carrier began in November, 2013, and the dry dock work started in March 2015.

Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission General Fan Changlong took part in the launch ceremony for the new aircraft carrier.

The ship is the largest and most sophisticated surface vessel that China has ever built. Before this carrier, the People's Liberation Army Navy operated a single aircraft carrier, the CNS Liaoning, which was a Soviet-era vessel bought incomplete that was refitted and then launched in September 2012.

According to the military, the new carrier will start the fitting-out process in the next stage, in which the ship's interior equipment and electronic systems, as well as its weaponry will be installed. At the same time, mooring trials will be conducted to verify the carrier's overall design and equipment.

The aircraft carrier will have a displacement of about 60,000 metric tons and a conventional propulsion system. China's self-made J-15 fighter jets and other ship-borne aircraft will operate from the carrier in the future.