China is ready to lay down own aircraft carrier

24.08.2010 China is ready to start building of its first aircraft carrier, reports Japanese Kyodo News agency.

Although official Beijing does not disclose date of the keel laying, Shanghai shipyard Changxing press service said that "creation of aircraft carrier is a matter of time". At present, required materials are being delivered.

To build an aircraft carrier, China constructed the biggest dock in the country (580 meters long and over 100 meters wide) at Changxing shipyard. Japanese media previously reported that two ground-based simulators designed for training of future deck-based aviation had been already built in China. In 2008 Chinese military command decided to reinforce national navy with aircraft carriers.

It is planned that China will build two aircraft-carrying ships equipped with conventional power plants by 2015, and two more carriers with nuclear power plants by 2020. This will sensibly increase the role of Chinese Navy in the region.