Last Sunday the first Chinese aircraft carrier returned from its second round of sea trials. The as of yet unnamed carrier, which reports suggest will be christened Shi Lang, was originally the unfinished Russian aircraft carrier Varyag whose keel was laid in 1985. The carrier is reported to be still missing gear necessary to land planes on the deck, due to a refusal of Russia to sell the equipment to China.  (See our previous post – From Varyag to Shi Lang – the Long Strange Voyage of China’s New Twenty Year Old Aircraft Carrier.)

First Chinese Aircraft Carrier Successfully Wraps Up Second Stage Sea Trials