The Chinese carrier Shandong , shown berthed at Dalian shipyard, should now be considered operational, the Pentagon reported. (CNES 2020/Distribution Airbus DS/Janes)

China continues to make notable advancements in the development of its aircraft carrier force, according to the US Department of Defense.

“In December 2019, the PRC [People's Republic of China] commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier, Shandong, which launched in 2017 and completed multiple sea trials during 2018–2019,” the Pentagon pointed out in its 2022 Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, released on 29 November.

“Shandong was photographed at a base on Hainan Island in the Southern Theater Navy in late 2020, and should now be considered to be operational,” the Pentagon reported.

Shandong is a modified version of the Liaoning – of the former Soviet Union Kuznetsov-class – design and likewise uses a ski-jump take-off method for its aircraft, the Pentagon noted.

The Chinese carrier Shandong , shown berthed at Dalian shipyard, should now be considered operational, the Pentagon reported. (CNES 2020/Distribution Airbus DS/Janes)

China continues to make notable advancements in the development of its aircraft carrier force, according to the US Department of Defense.

“In December 2019, the PRC [People's Republic of China] commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier, Shandong, which launched in 2017 and completed multiple sea trials during 2018–2019,” the Pentagon pointed out in its 2022 Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, released on 29 November.

“Shandong was photographed at a base on Hainan Island in the Southern Theater Navy in late 2020, and should now be considered to be operational,” the Pentagon reported.

Shandong is a modified version of the Liaoning – of the former Soviet Union Kuznetsov-class – design and likewise uses a ski-jump take-off method for its aircraft, the Pentagon noted.

The Chinese carrier Shandong , shown berthed at Dalian shipyard, should now be considered operational, the Pentagon reported. (CNES 2020/Distribution Airbus DS/Janes)

China continues to make notable advancements in the development of its aircraft carrier force, according to the US Department of Defense.

“In December 2019, the PRC [People's Republic of China] commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier, Shandong, which launched in 2017 and completed multiple sea trials during 2018–2019,” the Pentagon pointed out in its 2022 Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, released on 29 November.

“Shandong was photographed at a base on Hainan Island in the Southern Theater Navy in late 2020, and should now be considered to be operational,” the Pentagon reported.

Shandong is a modified version of the Liaoning – of the former Soviet Union Kuznetsov-class – design and likewise uses a ski-jump take-off method for its aircraft, the Pentagon noted.

The Chinese carrier Shandong , shown berthed at Dalian shipyard, should now be considered operational, the Pentagon reported. (CNES 2020/Distribution Airbus DS/Janes)

China continues to make notable advancements in the development of its aircraft carrier force, according to the US Department of Defense.

“In December 2019, the PRC [People's Republic of China] commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier, Shandong, which launched in 2017 and completed multiple sea trials during 2018–2019,” the Pentagon pointed out in its 2022 Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, released on 29 November.

“Shandong was photographed at a base on Hainan Island in the Southern Theater Navy in late 2020, and should now be considered to be operational,” the Pentagon reported.

Shandong is a modified version of the Liaoning – of the former Soviet Union Kuznetsov-class – design and likewise uses a ski-jump take-off method for its aircraft, the Pentagon noted.

The Chinese carrier Shandong , shown berthed at Dalian shipyard, should now be considered operational, the Pentagon reported. (CNES 2020/Distribution Airbus DS/Janes)

China continues to make notable advancements in the development of its aircraft carrier force, according to the US Department of Defense.

“In December 2019, the PRC [People's Republic of China] commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier, Shandong, which launched in 2017 and completed multiple sea trials during 2018–2019,” the Pentagon pointed out in its 2022 Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, released on 29 November.

“Shandong was photographed at a base on Hainan Island in the Southern Theater Navy in late 2020, and should now be considered to be operational,” the Pentagon reported.

Shandong is a modified version of the Liaoning – of the former Soviet Union Kuznetsov-class – design and likewise uses a ski-jump take-off method for its aircraft, the Pentagon noted.

The Chinese carrier Shandong , shown berthed at Dalian shipyard, should now be considered operational, the Pentagon reported. (CNES 2020/Distribution Airbus DS/Janes)

China continues to make notable advancements in the development of its aircraft carrier force, according to the US Department of Defense.

“In December 2019, the PRC [People's Republic of China] commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier, Shandong, which launched in 2017 and completed multiple sea trials during 2018–2019,” the Pentagon pointed out in its 2022 Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, released on 29 November.

“Shandong was photographed at a base on Hainan Island in the Southern Theater Navy in late 2020, and should now be considered to be operational,” the Pentagon reported.

Shandong is a modified version of the Liaoning – of the former Soviet Union Kuznetsov-class – design and likewise uses a ski-jump take-off method for its aircraft, the Pentagon noted.