New aircraft carrier to safeguard sovereignty

China's first totally domestically built aircraft carrier will reportedly start its sea trial soon, strengthening not only the country's naval power but also the overall national defense. If the Type 001 Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, was the path-breaker then the new aircraft carrier (Type 001A) will lead the scientific modernization of the defense sector. The as-yet unnamed 50,000-ton Type 001A aircraft carrier has a design similar to the 60,000-ton Liaoning, with a ski jump-style deck for taking off and a conventional oil-fueled steam turbine power plant.

The main difference between the two aircraft carriers is that the new one has more space for aircraft and helicopters. The new aircraft carrier has made significant improvements in tonnage, velocity, radar system and endurance - compared with the Liaoning - and has better combat capability, which will be further boosted when the ski-jump takeoff system will be replaced by the catapult takeoff system in the second completely domestically built aircraft carrier which is in the works.

Once the Type 001A is formally commissioned, it will become the flagship of China's naval vessels, and undertake more important strategic tasks of deterrence and actual combat at sea. That, however, doesn't mean the new aircraft carrier will compromise the importance of the Liaoning.