Construction of the hull of China's second aircraft carrier, the Shandong (Type 002), is complete, said the Ministry of National Defense.

Completion of the hull is another major milestone in China's attempt to produce its first indigenous aircraft carrier and comes a month after the carrier's island was installed on the flight deck. The ministry said assembly and design work on the Shandong was also finished.

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Workers are now installing equipment inside the carrier that also features a ski-jump aircraft launch system like its sister ship, the Liaoning.

Shandong will become the most powerful warship in the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) because of its offensive airpower; the most sophisticated radar system in the fleet and laser weapons later on.

Shandong is set for commissioning in 2020 after which is will become the flagship of the North Sea Fleet and the East Sea Fleet of the PLAN.

Analysts believe the Shandong will displace between 60,000 to 70,000 tons. Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company in Liaoning began building the carrier in 2015.

Shandong will probably carry 48 aircraft, a number larger than that of the Liaoning, China's only aircraft carrier that can take 36 aircraft. It will house up to 32 J-15 jets, a huge boost to its offensive firepower, with the other aircraft complement remaining more or less the same.

Liaoning can embark 36 aircraft: 24 Shenyang J-15 fighters; 6 Changhe Z-18F anti-submarine warfare helicopters; 4 Changhe Z-18J airborne early warning helicopters and 2 Harbin Z-9C rescue helicopters.

Cao Weidong, a researcher at the People's Liberation Army Navy Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said China's first indigenous aircraft carrier will probably have an Active Phased Array Radar (APAR) system that can simultaneously track hundreds of aerial and sea surface targets while guiding missiles to these targets.

Cao also confirmed the Shandong will embark some 50 aircraft of various types. More tellingly, the new carrier might be armed with solid state lasers to shoot down drones. The Naval Military Studies Research Institute is the think tank of PLAN.

He said the Shandong's radar system is far better than the Liaoning's. APAR is expected to enhance the Shandong's combat capability because of its longer detection range and better target acquisition.

TagsAircraft carrier, shandong, People's Liberation Army Navy, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company