China Says Its Third Aircraft Carrier Will Be Launched This Year

CCTV showed what appeared to be a model of an aircraft carrier covered by a red blanket (above) in a recent programme. Chinese military observers believe that the scene signifies the imminent completion of the Type 003 carrier, which will be the nation's third aircraft carrier 

Global Times: China’s 3rd aircraft carrier expected to launch in 2021: reports 

China's third aircraft carrier, expected to be very different from the previous two with much larger displacement and featuring electromagnetic catapults, could be launched in 2021 and enter naval service around 2025, media reports predicted based on recent photos of the ship's construction site. 

According to latest, openly available photos, blocks of the Type 003 aircraft carrier are being assembled in Shanghai and the general outline of the warship is already identifiable, Ordnance Industry Science Technology, a Chinese defense industry magazine, said in a report published in its WeChat account on Saturday. 

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Update #1: China's third aircraft carrier could be launched THIS YEAR and enter service around 2025, state media reports (Daily Mail) 

Update #2: Third Chinese Aircraft Carrier Nears Completion Amid Shipyard Expansion (The Diplomat) 

WNU Editor: It may be launched this year. But it will enter service only in 2025.