China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier will likely be launched soon, according to new satellite imagery of the vessel.
The carrier, called the Type 003, has been under construction near Shanghai since 2018. Satellite images taken by Planet Labs late May suggest work on the vessel is nearing its completion.
The launch has been long anticipated and was expected June 3 with the beginning of China’s Dragon Boat Festival. Chinese authorities reportedly delayed the launch, however, saying only that more work was needed before the vessel would be ready.
The carrier’s deck is visible in the images and equipment behind the carrier has been removed in an apparent step toward flooding the drydock and floating the vessel….