China building second aircraft carrier

Chinese officials have confirmed that construction of the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier is underway, according to a number of Chinese and Taiwanese media sources
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Length 315 metres

Width 75 metres

Displacement 65,000 tonnes

Speed 31 knots (57km/h)

Due date 2020
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Design: Believed to be significant upgrade over China’s first aircraft carrier Liaoning

Propulsion: Smokestack shape suggests gas turbines, or diesel/gas combination, instead of steam power

Active phased array radar Long-range detection and tracking, similarto U.S. Aegis system

Ski-jump: Assists take-off. Carrier may also have two catapults for launching planes

Armament: 4 x HQ-16 surface-to-air missile launchers, close-in weapon systems (CIWS), 4 x 30mm guns, 3 x anti-submarine launchers

Aircraft lifts (x3) Move planes between hangar and flight deck

Aircraft: About 70 carried, including J-15 fighters, plus anti-submarine and early warning helicopters

Bow Hydrodynamic projection
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CARRIER COMPARISON

Nimitz United States

New carrier China

Liaoning China

Queen Elizabeth UK

Charles de Gaulle France
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Sources: Jane’s Information Group, Andrew S. Erickson

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