Painting begins on domestically made carrier

Recent online photos showed that painting is underway on China's first domestically made aircraft carrier, supporting earlier rumors that the vessel would be launched "as soon as the middle of December." But military expert Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo expressed different opinions.

Recent online photos showed that painting is underway on China's first domestically made aircraft carrier, supporting earlier rumors that the vessel would be launched "as soon as the middle of December."

The photos showed that the red-color anti-rust coating is being painted on the hull, an important layer of the painting.

Commenting on the rumors, Yin said that the complex painting process would put the estimated time of launch at "the beginning of 2017 at the earliest." He said the paints are different for the parts above waterline and those beneath it.

"It's a fairly complex technical activity. We'll do it according to scientific rules, instead of rushing off; otherwise we risk rolling it again after the ship is launched," said Yin.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Defense (MOD), Senior Colonel Yang Yujun, said on November 30 at a routine press conference that there was no more information to give apart from that the aircraft carrier's construction was in orderly progress.

"I don't know the details about the painting. If possible, I personally would like to go to the construction site to have a look and come back with an answer," said Sr. Col. Yang.

Earlier in October, Col. Wu Qian, another MOD spokesperson, said that the main hull of China's first domestically made aircraft carrier had been completed, and the bridge as well as various equipment were being installed on the ship. This led to media speculation that the ship would be launched "as soon as mid-December."

Yin also speculated that China would start building its third aircraft carrier soon after the aforementioned carrier is launched. He added that the new vessel would not necessarily be made by Dalian Shipyard, which is manufacturing the current vessel, because the shipyard in Shanghai also has the required capacity. In fact, he said that China is capable of building two carriers at the same time.

China's first domestically made aircraft carrier will use the ski-takeoff system, judged from the flight deck shape, but the next carrier is expected to be equipped with catapult assisted takeoff devices. Military fans have high hopes that the new carrier may even take the next-generation electromagnetic catapult devices.

Yin confirmed that China possesses the technologies for both the currently popular steam catapult and the electromagnetic catapult. "As researchers, we also hope that we can directly develop the electromagnetic device, bypassing the steam catapult," he said.