Shandong’s first sea exercises in the northern part of the Yellow Sea since being commissioned late last year in what was a major launch ceremony attended by President Xi. The ongoing trails in an unknown location are being focused on weapons systems testing, including aircraft launch and landing.
“The purpose of this training is to test weapons and equipment efficiency, improve the aircraft carrier’s training capability and further elevate its ability to carry out future missions,” a PLA Navy statement said. Regional media has admitted its sea trial schedule had been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
State media on 5-29-20 https://twitter.com/i/status/1266023926154489856 featured at least seven J-15 takeoff footage from the deck of the Shandong, hailing the sea trials as a ‘success’:
“The purpose of this training is to test the performance of weapons and equipment, improve the level of aircraft carrier training, and further enhance the troops’ ability to perform missions and tasks.”
Last December’s commissioning of the new aircraft carrier, China’s second one total and first locally made, was a significant milestone for China as it expands its efforts to become a dominant superpower in the Indo-Pacific region.
Shandong has a displacement of 40,000-60,000 tons with a ski-jump flight deck similar to China’s first carrier, Liaoning, which had originally been purchased from Ukraine and refurbished. Significant improvements in layout design allow the new aircraft carrier to carry 36 J-15 fighter jets, compared to the Liaoning’s 24.