China Launches High-tech Aircraft Carrier in Naval Milestone
2022-06-22
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1China launched a new-generation aircraft carrier on Friday.
2It is the first such ship to be both designed and built in China.
3It marks a major step for the country as it seeks to strengthen its navy.
4Chinese state media reports said the Type 003 carrier, named Fujian, left where it was built outside Shanghai on Friday morning.
5The Type 003 ship is thought to be as advanced as Western carriers.
6China is seeking to turn its navy -- already the world's largest -- into a multi-carrier force.
7Ridzwan Rahmat is a Singapore-based researcher with the defense intelligence company Janes.
8He said, "This is an important milestone for China's military-industrial complex."
9He said the ship demonstrates that Chinese engineers are now able to manufacture all the fighting equipment that makes up modern naval warfare.
10He added that the ability to build a very complex warship will bring other benefits for the Chinese shipbuilding industry.
11China's first aircraft carrier was a repurposed Soviet ship.
12Its second was built in China but based on a Soviet design.
13The Type 003 employs a launch system known as a catapult launch.
14China's official Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday that the catapult launch is an electromagnetic-type system.
15That system was first developed by the U.S. Navy.
16Rahmat said the system will permit the ship to launch more kinds of aircraft, which is necessary for China to expand its naval power.
17China's People's Liberation Army Navy (or PLAN) has been working for many years to become a force that is able to operate worldwide rather than only near the Chinese mainland.
18The PLAN currently has an estimated 355 ships, including submarines.
19U.S. experts estimate the force will grow to 420 ships by 2025 and 460 ships by 2030.
20In its report to the U.S. Congress last year on China's military abilities, the Department of Defense said the carrier development program was very important to Chinese navy development.
21It said the program will permit Chinese naval operations to go beyond East Asia into "increasingly longer ranges."
22In recent years, China has expanded its presence into the Indian Ocean, the Western Pacific and beyond.
23It also set up its first overseas base in the African nation of Djibouti, where the U.S., Japan, and other nations also have a military presence.
24China recently signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, a nation in the Pacific Ocean.
25Some observers are concerned that the agreement could give China a military camp in the South Pacific.
26China is also expanding a port facility in Cambodia, which could give it a presence in the Gulf of Thailand.
27Now that it is launched, the carrier will have to be fitted with necessary equipment.
28The process could take two to six months.
29Next there will be harbor acceptance tests and sea tests, which may take another six months.
30The next step will involve engineers launching test loads using the catapult system.
31Rahmat said, "The first aircraft will only be launched from this carrier perhaps in late-2023 to 2024, and full operational capability will likely be declared closer to 2025."
32I'm Jill Robbins.
1China launched a new-generation aircraft carrier on Friday. It is the first such ship to be both designed and built in China. It marks a major step for the country as it seeks to strengthen its navy. 2Chinese state media reports said the Type 003 carrier, named Fujian, left where it was built outside Shanghai on Friday morning. 3The Type 003 ship is thought to be as advanced as Western carriers. China is seeking to turn its navy -- already the world's largest -- into a multi-carrier force. 4Ridzwan Rahmat is a Singapore-based researcher with the defense intelligence company Janes. He said, "This is an important milestone for China's military-industrial complex." 5He said the ship demonstrates that Chinese engineers are now able to manufacture all the fighting equipment that makes up modern naval warfare. He added that the ability to build a very complex warship will bring other benefits for the Chinese shipbuilding industry. 6China's first aircraft carrier was a repurposed Soviet ship. Its second was built in China but based on a Soviet design. 7The Type 003 employs a launch system known as a catapult launch. China's official Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday that the catapult launch is an electromagnetic-type system. That system was first developed by the U.S. Navy. 8Rahmat said the system will permit the ship to launch more kinds of aircraft, which is necessary for China to expand its naval power. 9China's People's Liberation Army Navy (or PLAN) has been working for many years to become a force that is able to operate worldwide rather than only near the Chinese mainland. 10The PLAN currently has an estimated 355 ships, including submarines. U.S. experts estimate the force will grow to 420 ships by 2025 and 460 ships by 2030. 11In its report to the U.S. Congress last year on China's military abilities, the Department of Defense said the carrier development program was very important to Chinese navy development. It said the program will permit Chinese naval operations to go beyond East Asia into "increasingly longer ranges." 12In recent years, China has expanded its presence into the Indian Ocean, the Western Pacific and beyond. It also set up its first overseas base in the African nation of Djibouti, where the U.S., Japan, and other nations also have a military presence. 13China recently signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, a nation in the Pacific Ocean. Some observers are concerned that the agreement could give China a military camp in the South Pacific. 14China is also expanding a port facility in Cambodia, which could give it a presence in the Gulf of Thailand. 15Now that it is launched, the carrier will have to be fitted with necessary equipment. The process could take two to six months. Next there will be harbor acceptance tests and sea tests, which may take another six months. The next step will involve engineers launching test loads using the catapult system. 16Rahmat said, "The first aircraft will only be launched from this carrier perhaps in late-2023 to 2024, and full operational capability will likely be declared closer to 2025." 17I'm Jill Robbins. 18Tom Krisher reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 19______________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21advanced - adj. far along in a course of progress or development 22milestone - n. an important point in the progress or development of something 23benefit - n. the ability to do something 24beyond - n. a good or helpful result or effect 25range - n. the distance over which someone or something can see, hear, or reach someone or something else 26facility - n. something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a specific purpose 27harbor - n. a part of the ocean or a lake that is next to land and that is protected and deep enough to provide safety for ships 28capability - n. the ability to do something 29We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.