China is paying attention to aircraft carriers. Construction of another unusual unit underway
According to the latest satellite images, China is building a small and lightweight aircraft carrier. Experts stress that the purpose of the new unit is not clear due to its unusual size and shape. It will probably serve as a base for helicopters and drones. One expert says China's coast guard is increasingly being used as a paramilitary force.
CNN, which had access to Planet Labs' satellite images, reported that China is building a large, flat-roofed ship, possibly an aircraft carrier. It shows what is happening in shipyards in Guangdong province. The agency emphasized that China has recently been increasingly building highly advanced warships that are technologically comparable to US aircraft carriers.
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But on the other hand, the new unit stands out significantly more than the previous one.・It has a slightly unusual shape and size. Thomas Shugart, a former U.S. Navy submarine commander and now a researcher at the Center for a New American Security, said it is much smaller than previous Chinese Navy aircraft carriers.
China. A mysterious ship is being built. Experts have first guesses
Experts say the ship is so small that it is believed to be the first civilian aircraft carrier “used for some kind of research.” But it's an inexpensive addition to the Navy and can be used for a variety of purposes, said Karl Schuster, former director of operations for the Joint Information Center.
“Due to its lightweight design, the ship could serve as a helicopter or drone carrier for the China Coast Guard, which is increasingly used by paramilitary forces,” Schuster said.
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China's largest aircraft carrier is Fujian. It first went to sea on May 1st this year and is the first unit of its type to be designed from scratch in the Middle Kingdom. Unlike its predecessor, it uses American rather than Soviet technology.
China is investing in aircraft carriers. they want to improve their combat capabilities
The Fujian is the second ship to be built after the U.S. Navy. Experts say it could join the People's Liberation Army Navy's fleet by 2026.
In late October, two other aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, completed the first-ever similar two-ship exercise, state news agency Xinhua reported. The exercise, held in the South China Sea, was aimed at “improving the overall combat capabilities of aircraft carrier formations.”
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