New aircraft carrier enters service

The Navy earlier said the Shandong displaces at least 50,000 metric tons of water. It has conventional propulsion systems and uses a ramp to launch J-15 fighter jets, the spearhead of the Chinese carrier battle group, like the Liaoning. The ship also deploys several types of helicopters.

The new carrier features several aspects of the country's latest naval technology different from the Liaoning. For example, the Shandong has more space to accommodate fighter jets, better radar, a longer landing section and a larger air command bridge, according to previous CCTV reports.

Xiao Ning, editor-in-chief of Weapon magazine, said that the Shandong is likely to be tasked with different missions than the Liaoning. The latter is mainly responsible for testing equipment and weapons and training personnel. The new vessel, by comparison, will focus on what a genuine aircraft carrier is supposed to do: running combat-ready patrols and safeguarding a nation's maritime sovereignty and interests.

Major General Chen Zhou, a senior strategy researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Science, previously said that the second carrier is definitely not the end of China's aircraft carrier program.

In an article published in November 2018, Xinhua News Agency said a "new-generation carrier" is being constructed at an unidentified shipyard as per schedule.

Liang Fang, a professor of naval studies at the PLA National Defense University, told China Central Television in an earlier interview that the possession of two carrier battle groups will give the Chinese military higher flexibility and more options when it uses its carrier force to protect its marine and overseas interests.

Besides China, there are seven countries now operating a total of 19 aircraft carriers.