Western military analysts report China's second aircraft carrier, the CNS Shandong (CV-17), is in advanced stages of construction and the ship is still scheduled for commissioning in 2020.

Shandong will become the most powerful warship in the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) because of its offensive airpower and the fact it will be outfitted with the most sophisticated radar system in the Surface Fleet.

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Shandong will become the flagship of both 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 CNS Liaoning (CV-16), China's only aircraft carrier that can take 36 aircraft. Shandong 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.

Shandong is the first aircraft carrier built entirely in China. The Liaoning was purchased from Ukraine in the late 1990s and towed to China for an extensive rebuild.

Shandong will have a heavier displacement than Liaoning. It will also have a larger island and larger internal hanger space for aircraft stowage below deck.

The larger island on the Shandong suggests it will house a more advanced communications equipment system and the updated Type 346A active phased array radar (APAR).

In October, Cao Weidong, a researcher at the People's Liberation Army Navy Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said Shandong, China's first indigenous aircraft carrier, will probably have an 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.

Cao 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.

TagsCNS Shandong (CV-17), china, Aircraft carrier, People's Liberation Army Navy, CNS Liaoning, Cao Weidong