Shandong, often linked with the Type 002 or Type 001A designations, is China's first aircraft carrier built in China. It is an evolutionary step from Liaoning rather than a clean break, retaining the ski-jump STOBAR approach while improving the domestic industrial base for carrier construction and integration.
The ship can operate J-15 fighters and helicopters for air defense, maritime strike, patrol, and training missions. Its ski-jump configuration is less flexible than catapult launch because aircraft generally take off with lighter fuel or weapons loads, but it still gives the PLAN a second deck for sortie practice, command integration, and sustained carrier aviation development.
Shandong is strategically important because it turned China's carrier program from a single refurbished ship into a reproducible domestic capability. It increased carrier availability, gave the Navy more training capacity, and helped prepare personnel and shipyards for the more ambitious Fujian catapult carrier.
| Name | Country | Status | Service Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CNS Shandong (CV-17) | 🇨🇳China | ACTIVE | 2019 – Present | Type 002 carrier, improved design with ski-jump |
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