Chinese Navy Type 002 Shandong aircraft carrier continues to strengthen the research of tactics and training methods.

According to a video released on Youtube by CCTV China on October 27, 2020, after 10 months of training, the first Chinese-made aircraft carrier Shandong also called Type 002 continues to strengthen the research of tactics and training methods. The ship was launched on 26 April 2017 for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
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First Chinese-made aircraft carrier Shandong also called Type 002 during training exercises at sea. (Picture source CCTVChina)

The Shandong aircraft carrier of the Chinese Navy has successfully completed a series of training exercises including combat capabilities, naval aviation operations, damage control, and emergency response. In May 2020, Chinese media has reported that the ship was conducting testing and training missions at sea after local residents saw the warship leaving a shipyard.

The Shandong aircraft carrier design is based on China's first carrier Liaoning which is built from the partially-complete hull of the Soviet Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Varyag. It measures about 315 meters (1,033 ft) long, with a displacement of about 55,000 tones (70,000 loaded).

The Shandong aircraft carrier can carry a total of 44 aircraft including 24 J-15 Fighter, three J-15D EW Electronic Warfare Fighter, six Z-18F ASW ( Anti-Surface Warfare ) Helicopter, four Z-18Y AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) Helicopter, two Z-18A VIP Transport Helicopter, one Z-8JH Medical Helicopter and two Z-9S Rescue Helicopter. She has a crew from 2,500 to 2,625 sailors.

The Shandong aircraft carrier retains the ski jump takeoff, which limits its air wing to helicopters and Shenyang J-15 fighter jets of the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force. Like the first Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, she uses the simpler "short take-off but arrested recovery" (STOBAR) launch and recovery system.

The Shandong aircraft carrier uses conventional steam turbines with diesel generators as propulsion. She can reach a top sped of 31 knots (36 mph; 57 km/h). The armament of the ship includes three Type 1130 CIWS Close-In Weapon System, a seven-barreled 30 mm Gatling gun that have a range of up to 3 km. The ship is also armed with three HQ-10, a short range surface-to-air missile designed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Each HQ-10 missile has a length of around 2 m and a width of around 0.12 m. The missile has a range of 9 km against subsonic targets and 6 km against supersonic targets, and a flight altitude as low as 1.5 meters.