According to information published by Global Times on April 7, 2023, the aircraft carrier Shandong of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy reportedly started its first exercise in the West Pacific after sailing past the island of Taiwan.
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Chinese Type 002 aircraft carrier Shandong. (Picture source: Chinamil)
The Shandong is China's domestically-built second aircraft carrier and was commissioned into the PLA Navy in 2019 after completing intensive training exercises and obtaining its combat training certificate.
It is expected to hold its far sea exercises beyond the first island chain, alternating with the PLA Navy's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which is currently undergoing maintenance.
Experts expect the PLA to take countermeasures, including holding large-scale and long-lasting drills around Taiwan, should Taiwan's regional leader Tsai Ing-wen, and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meet in California.
About the Shandong
The Shandong is a Type 002 STOBAR aircraft carrier, which is a variant of the Kuznetsov-class. She has a displacement of 60,000 to 70,000 tons when at full load and a length of 305 meters.
The beam is 75 meters and the propulsion is conventional steam turbines with four shafts. The carrier can reach a speed of up to 31 knots. The Shandong is equipped with various sensors and processing systems, including the Type 346A S-band AESA and Type 382 radar.
She also has armament such as the 3 Type 1130 CIWS and 3 HQ-10 18-cell missile system. The aircraft carrier can carry up to 44 total aircraft, including 32 Shenyang J-15, 8 Changhe Z-18, and 4 Harbin Z-9.
