Type 001 Liaoning aircraft carrier

Liaoning is the People's Liberation Army Navy's first aircraft carrier and the lead Type 001 ship, rebuilt from the unfinished Soviet Varyag hull at Dalian Shipyard. It uses a ski-jump STOBAR layout for carrier aviation training and operations, and has undergone major refit work and sea-trial activity since entering Chinese service in 2012.

Type 001 Liaoning aircraft carrier, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ski-jump aircraft carrier, Naval Systems

Image source: File:Liaoning (CV-16).jpg

Profile

Origin: China
Built by: Dalian Shipbuilding Industry
Type: Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ski-jump aircraft carrier
Produced: Rebuilt and fitted out at Dalian Shipyard after 2002; commissioned in 2012.

Also Known As

Liaoning
CV-16
Type 001
Liaoning (16)

carrier aviation

Specifications

Class / designation: Type 001
Displacement: About 58,500 to 65,000 tons full load
Length: About 306.4 m overall
Speed: About 32 knots
Range: About 3,850 nautical miles at 32 knots
Air group: About 40 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft
Crew: About 1,960 crew plus air group and staff

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy on 25 September 2012 as China's first aircraft carrier.
Used by: People's Liberation Army Navy

Type 001 Liaoning aircraft carrier Images

Type 001 Liaoning aircraft carrier, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ski-jump aircraft carrier, Naval Systems - view 1 — Source: File:Liaoning (CV-16).jpg

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Sources

Liaoning Shi Lang ex-VaryagPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the Liaoning's Type 001 designation, STOBAR carrier role, background, commissioning context, and core specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Liaoning aircraft carrier returns to sea after refitPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports the Dalian Shipyard refit context and sea-trial activity after maintenance and modification. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 China's aircraft carrier Liaoning sets out for sea trial after full year of refurbishmentPublisher: Global Times | Note: Supports the 2024 refurbishment and sea-trial context at Dalian Shipyard. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 File:Liaoning (CV-16).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the primary image provenance for Liaoning. | Accessed: 2026-06-25