China Is Set To Build A Fourth Aircraft Carrier, But A Fifth Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier Has Been Put On Hold

China will end up with four carriers under the current plans. Photo:ifeng

SCMP: Chinese navy set to build fourth aircraft carrier, but plans for a more advanced ship are put on hold

* Military sources say that work on a second Type 002 ship - the most advanced homegrown vessel – could start within two years
* Plans to develop more modern nuclear-powered vessel appear to have been put on ice due to financial and technical constraints

The Chinese navy is moving ahead with plans to build another aircraft carrier, but plans for a fifth have been put on hold for now, according to military insiders.

They said that technical challenges and high costs had put the brakes on the programme and the recent merger of the country’s two major shipbuilders was unlikely to have a significant short-term impact.

The country currently has just one active carrier, the Liaoning – a refitted Soviet-era vessel – but the first homebuilt carrier, the Type 001, is undergoing sea trials and may soon be ready for service.

Work on the more modern Type 002 carrier started two years ago and a naval source said construction on the second Type 002 could start as early as 2021.

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WNU Editor: China's plans to build a nuclear powered aircraft carrier have been put on hold due to costs and technical reasons. Well duh!!! Building nuclear powered aircraft carriers is not an easy thing.