Recent satellite pictures, published by IHS Jane’s 360 last week, indicate that China could be constructing a new aircraft carrier. The first of these pictures was taken on May the 1st in China’s northeastern port of Dalian.
Subsequent pictures taken last June and more recently on the 22nd of September revealed the construction of a vessel large enough to be an aircraft carrier. According to Jane’s the new vessel could be as long as 270 meters, when the bow of the ship is taken into account.
Of course there is always the possibility that the vessel will be “a new class of amphibious assault ship or helicopter carrier,” as Jane’s reports. But according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, China is building two aircraft carriers that are going be the same size as Liaoning (CV 16), the only aircraft carrier the Chinese Navy has currently in operation.
Last year the Chinese media published a quote by Mr. Wang Min, the Communist Party secretary of Liaoning province, saying that Beijing was expected to complete a second aircraft carrier by around 2020.
Chinese media also reported that a local company was awarded a contract to supply the harnesses necessary for the construction of the new vessel.
It is worth mentioning that both stories were quickly removed from the Chinese media after publication.
Image Sourced: Xinhua