China‘s third aircraft carrier is expected to be launched in 2021 and enter naval service around 2025, according to state media.

The vessel, known as the Type 003, is being assembled at a shipyard in Shanghai and could be ‘only a few months’ away from its launch, multiple official outlets revealed last week.

The news comes after China claimed last October that its second aircraft carrier was military ready after soldiers had carried out a series of live-fire drills.

China's third aircraft carrier will follow the Shandong, which was launched in 2019. The Shandong is pictured docked at a naval port in Sanya, southern China, on December 17, 2019

China's third aircraft carrier will follow the Shandong, which was launched in 2019. The Shandong is pictured docked at a naval port in Sanya, southern China, on December 17, 2019

China’s third aircraft carrier will follow the Shandong, which was launched in 2019. The Shandong is pictured docked at a naval port in Sanya, southern China, on December 17, 2019

Beijing’s newest aircraft carrier will reportedly have a displacement of over 80,000 tonnes and feature electromagnetic catapults to launch aircraft.

Although the Chinese military has not announced details of the mighty warship, three state-run media outlets have hinted a timeframe for its launch.

One of them, Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), suggested last Tuesday that the Type 003 would likely debut this year. 

At the end of a programme summarising Beijing’s new weapons, <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website military channel showed what appeared to be a model of an aircraft carrier covered by a red blanket.

The station put a caption saying ’2021, we expect…’ under the model in the computer-generated imagery.

Chinese military observers believe that the scene signifies the imminent completion of the Type 003 carrier.

CCTV showed what appeared to be a model of an aircraft carrier covered by a red blanket (above) in a recent programme. Chinese military observers believe that the scene signifies the imminent completion of the Type 003 carrier, which will be the nation's third aircraft carrier

CCTV showed what appeared to be a model of an aircraft carrier covered by a red blanket (above) in a recent programme. Chinese military observers believe that the scene signifies the imminent completion of the Type 003 carrier, which will be the nation's third aircraft carrier

CCTV showed what appeared to be a model of an aircraft carrier covered by a red blanket (above) in a recent programme. Chinese military observers believe that the scene signifies the imminent completion of the Type 003 carrier, which will be the nation’s third aircraft carrier

CCTV’s revelation was followed by a social media post from Ordnance Industry Science Technology, an account run by a Xi’an-based, state-affiliated military magazine of the same name. 

The <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website echoed CCTV’s suggestions after analysing recent photos of the ship’s construction site.

It noted that blocks of the warship were being assembled in Shanghai, and the general outline of the vessel was already identifiable.

The post forecast that it would take two years for the carrier to complete a series of post-launch missions, including the outfitting works, installation of equipment and completion of tests and sea trials.

It estimated that the ship would enter naval service between the end of 2024 and mid-2025.

'2021 is a year full of expectations, including the Type 003 aircraft carrier and also the H-20 bomber,' military expert Song Zhongping told state-run newspaper Global Times on Sunday

'2021 is a year full of expectations, including the Type 003 aircraft carrier and also the H-20 bomber,' military expert Song Zhongping told state-run newspaper Global Times on Sunday

’2021 is a year full of expectations, including the Type 003 aircraft carrier and also the H-20 bomber,’ military expert Song Zhongping told state-run newspaper Global Times on Sunday

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, revealed that the construction of the warship’s blocks was already complete and what was left to be done was the assembly in the dock.

’2021 is a year full of expectations, including the Type 003 aircraft carrier and also the H-20 bomber,’ Song told state-run newspaper the <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website Times on Sunday.

Song was referring to the highly anticipated aircraft carrier as well as China’s new nuclear-capable stealth bomber. 

‘It is time for our technological development to bear fruit,’ he said.

Footage shows the ship launching ammunition to blow up enemy targets during an exercise

Footage shows the ship launching ammunition to blow up enemy targets during an exercise

Footage shows the ship launching ammunition to blow up enemy targets during an exercise

It is believed that Beijing’s third aircraft carrier will have a much larger displacement than the country’s previous two vessels.

Ordnance Industry Science Technology expected it to displace more than 80,000 tonnes while Western reports have put the figure at 100,000 tonnes. 

The Shandong, China’s second aircraft carrier and first domestically built carrier, has a displacement of 50,000 tonnes.

It was commissioned by Chinese President Xi during a ceremony at a naval port in Sanya, southern China’s Hainan Province, in December 2019.

The ship, named after the eastern coastal province of Shandong, puts China in a small club of nations with multiple aircraft carriers. 

China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is a re-fitted Soviet-era Ukrainian ship. Named after the province where it was revamped, it entered service in September 2012.