Naval Systems

Type 002 Shandong aircraft carrier

Also known as
  • Shandong
  • CNS Shandong
  • PLANS Shandong
  • CV-17
  • Shandong CV-17
  • Shandong (CV-17)
  • Shandong (17)
  • Type 001A
  • Type 001A aircraft carrier
  • Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong

The Type 002 Shandong is China's first domestically built aircraft carrier and the PLAN's second operational carrier, a conventionally powered STOBAR ship that extends the Liaoning design with a smaller island, Type 346A radar, and a larger expected air wing. Commissioned at Sanya on 17 December 2019 as hull number CV-17, Shandong has since been tracked on repeated Western Pacific and South China Sea deployments rather than documented combat use.

Type 002 Shandong aircraft carrier, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ski-jump aircraft carrier, Naval Systems
Image source: Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in 2019.jpg
Carrier Aviation Context

Public evidence supports Shandong as a carrier aviation platform rather than documented combat employment. ChinaPower describes the ship as a STOBAR carrier with Type 346A radar, an expected J-15 fighter and helicopter air wing, and a self-defense suite likely similar to Liaoning. Japanese monitoring in 2023 and 2025 separately documents repeated carrier-based fighter and helicopter operations from the ship in the Western Pacific.

Launch method

Ski-jump STOBAR operations define the ship's fixed-wing limits before China's transition to Fujian's catapult carrier design.

Air wing evidence

Public sources tie Shandong to J-15 fighter operations and helicopter launch/recovery activity; exact embarked loadouts vary by deployment and are not consistently public.

Defensive fit

The open-source fit centers on close-in defense and ship sensors, including Type 346A radar plus likely Type 1130, HQ-10, RBU-6000, and decoy systems.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
China
Type
Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ski-jump aircraft carrier
Service note
2019-present
Produced
Construction began November 2013; launched 2017; commissioned 2019
Number built
1

Specifications

Class / designation
Type 002 / formerly Type 001A; hull number 17
Carrier type
STOBAR with a ski-jump bow ramp
Displacement
About 66,000-70,000 tons full load
Length
304.5 m
Beam
75 m
Propulsion
Conventional steam turbines with diesel generators
Air wing
Expected slightly larger than Liaoning; CSIS lists J-15 fighters and helicopter capacity as the core public comparison
Self-defense fit
CSIS comparison lists Type 1130 CIWS, HQ-10 SAM launchers, RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers, and flare/chaff launchers as likely similar to Liaoning
Radar
Type 346A S-band AESA
Launch / recovery
Short take-off but arrested recovery; fixed-wing aircraft launch from a ski-jump ramp and recover by arresting gear
Timeline

Type 002 Shandong aircraft carrier Key Events

  1. Construction begins at Dalian

    ChinaPower places the start of Shandong's construction at Dalian in November 2013.

    Sources: What Do We Know (so far) about China’s Second Aircraft Carrier?

  2. Launched

    CSIS identifies 26 April 2017 as the launch date for China's second aircraft carrier.

    Sources: What Do We Know (so far) about China’s Second Aircraft Carrier?

  3. Commissioned

    The Chinese government and Xinhua reported that Shandong was delivered to the PLA Navy and placed in active service at Sanya on 17 December 2019.

    Sources: Xi attends commissioning of first Chinese-built aircraft carrier

  4. Carrier operations documented east of Taiwan

    Naval News reported Shandong operating east of Taiwan during a deployment that placed the carrier group beyond home waters.

    Sources: Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong deploys east of Taiwan

  5. Large-scale flight operations during Joint Sword drills

    USNI News, citing Japanese officials, reported 80 J-15 fighter missions and 40 helicopter takeoffs and landings from Shandong during the April 2023 exercises around Taiwan.

    Sources: U.S., Chinese Aircraft Carriers Operating Near Taiwan

  6. JMSDF reports Pacific deployment

    Japan's Joint Staff Office reported that JMSDF units spotted Shandong with escorts southeast of Miyako-jima and observed carrier-based fighter and helicopter operations from the ship.

    Sources: Activities of Chinese Navy Aircraft Carrier - June 23, 2025

  7. Sustained flight operations reported

    A later Japanese Joint Staff Office release reported about 70 additional takeoffs and landings from Shandong on 20-22 June 2025 and about 420 total since 9 June.

    Sources: Activities of Chinese Navy Aircraft Carrier - July 1, 2025

Media

Type 002 Shandong aircraft carrier Videos

Type 002 Shandong aircraft carrier Images

Type 002 Shandong aircraft carrier, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ski-jump aircraft carrier, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: PLAN Shandong CV-17 20230406.jpg
Type 002 Shandong aircraft carrier, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ski-jump aircraft carrier, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: PLANS Shandong (CV-17) 20231028.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
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Sources

CV-17 CNS Shandong - Type 002 Aircraft CarrierPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the ship's Type 002 designation, domestic construction background, STOBAR ski-jump configuration, displacement, and general service context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03What Do We Know (so far) about China’s Second Aircraft Carrier?Publisher: ChinaPower Project, CSIS | Note: Supports the launch date, commissioning date, Type 001A / Type 002 naming, carrier dimensions, air-wing context, and key construction timeline. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Xi attends commissioning of first Chinese-built aircraft carrierPublisher: State Council of the People's Republic of China / Xinhua | Note: Supports Shandong's 17 December 2019 commissioning at Sanya, delivery to the PLA Navy, active-service entry, and hull number 17. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong deploys east of TaiwanPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports the carrier's operational deployment east of Taiwan in 2023 and its role as an active fleet carrier. | Accessed: 2026-07-03U.S., Chinese Aircraft Carriers Operating Near TaiwanPublisher: USNI News | Note: Supports Shandong's April 2023 carrier-group operations east of Taiwan, J-15 fighter missions, helicopter operations, and connection to the Joint Sword exercise context without treating the exercise as catalog combat use. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Chinese Aircraft Carrier Shandong Back in South China SeaPublisher: USNI News | Note: Supports the April 2023 return to the South China Sea after a Philippine Sea deployment and identifies escort composition and observed J-15/Z-18 activity. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Japan MOD Shandong sighting - April 6, 2023Publisher: Japan Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office | Note: Original Japanese Joint Staff Office release for the April 2023 Shandong sighting south of Hateruma Island and image provenance for the matching Commons gallery file. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Japan MOD Shandong sighting - October 28, 2023Publisher: Japan Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office | Note: Original Japanese Joint Staff Office release for the October 2023 Shandong sighting south of Miyako-jima, carrier aircraft activity, and image provenance for the matching Commons gallery file. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Activities of Chinese Navy Aircraft Carrier - June 23, 2025Publisher: Japan Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office | Note: Supports the June 2025 JMSDF sighting of Shandong southeast of Miyako-jima with escorts and observed carrier-based fighter and helicopter operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Activities of Chinese Navy Aircraft Carrier - July 1, 2025Publisher: Japan Ministry of Defense Joint Staff Office | Note: Supports June 2025 observed Shandong takeoffs and landings, locations south of Miyako-jima and Yonaguni-jima, and the carrier group's later movement toward the South China Sea. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in 2019.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the primary gallery image of Shandong. | Accessed: 2026-07-03PLAN Shandong CV-17 20230406.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a gallery image of Shandong underway in 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-03PLANS Shandong (CV-17) 20231028.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a gallery image of Shandong in 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-03