The satellite image shows China's Type-001A aircraft carrier anchored at Du Lam base on Hainan Island on November 19.

High-definition satellite images published by the US-based space technology company Maxar Technologies on November 19 show that the Type-001A, China's first domestic aircraft carrier, is being supported by ships. at anchor position in Du Lam naval base, Sanya city, Hainan island.

On the deck of Type-001A there are 7 J-15 multi-role fighters and 4 Z-18 helicopters. Some pictures of the Type-001A aircraft carrier on Hainan Island were also posted on Chinese social media this week.

The Chinese Navy on November 18 confirmed that the Type-001A had passed through the Taiwan Strait to conduct routine scientific tests and training on areas in the South China Sea. Chinese naval spokesman Cheng De Wei said that this was a "normal operation" of the Chinese aircraft carrier and was not "aimed at any specific objective and unrelated to the current situation".

This is the Ninth Type-001A maritime test, a Chinese-made aircraft carrier since 2013 based on the design of the Liaoning aircraft carrier, but applied a number of enhancements to increase its carrying capacity. fly.

The Type 001A was launched in April 2017 and completed a year later, but has not yet entered the Chinese navy. Some experts suspect the ship may have had a serious problem during a sea test in August.

China is building parts of a third aircraft carrier, Type 002, at the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai. The Type 002 is expected to have a flat deck, equipped with a electromagnetic catapult, allowing fighters to carry more weapons and longer-range aircraft, including early wing warning aircraft.

The aircraft carrier is considered a key component of China's long-range naval force ambition, which could challenge decades of U.S. dominance in East Asia. In addition to aircraft carriers, China has launched four Type 055 large cruisers and the first Type 075 helicopter carrier.