Chinese state media says Fujian aircraft carrier may be commissioned by end of year
Military analyst tells national broadcaster CCTV that sea trials have made ‘very good progress’
In a feature broadcast on Tuesday, the third anniversary of the ship’s launch, Wei Dongxu, a CCTV military commentator, said: “The sea trials of the Fujian have made very good progress and it is expected to enter service this year.”
Satellite images of the ship circulating on social media over the weekend showed 36 newly painted spaces on the flight deck for warplanes, a higher capacity than the country’s two existing carriers.
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Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former PLA instructor, said the new markings suggested that the Fujian “is getting prepared to be commissioned”.