Today, the Chinese Navy concluded a live ammunition exercise that lasted for several days and was the scene of the South China Sea, taking advantage of the recent expansion operations it carried out in one of the naval bases in the region.
According to a report by the American "Defense News" journal, Harbin Z-9 helicopters took off from the "Sanya" base on the southern slope of Hainan Island, and launched their anti-ship bombers at structural targets.
The Z-9 helicopter, a licensed version of the AS365 Dolphin Eurocopter, is one of the standard helicopters used by the Chinese Navy in its fleets.
The live ammunition maneuver sends a symbolic significance, but the take-off site of the helicopters is the most prominent event in it in particular, as the base from which it was launched has witnessed tremendous development over the past year, according to reports.
The South China Sea is an important, hot and targeted strategic area. China claims control over the entire region, and for its part, it has strengthened its naval bases in the region. Not only is the air base the only facility making a difference in the balance of power in the region, but China is also working to bolster the capabilities of an aircraft carrier base miles offshore.
Satellite imagery showed that there is continuous progress at the dry dock at the base, which is large enough to accommodate the new model of the Chinese giant aircraft carrier Type-003. The wharf, which began construction in 2016, is nearing completion.
"As the satellite images do not show the presence of new facilities, there remains a state of uncertainty about assessing the purpose of this pier. But it remains clear that, at this stage, it is a massive dry dock under construction," the US report added.
According to experts, the construction of a dry dock in Hainan will enhance the strength of China's naval presence in the region, and indicates that aircraft carriers will permanently settle on the island. The dock near the area appears to be currently in use from a new type "Type-075" attack aircraft carrier, and this berth can accommodate two aircraft carriers with complete equipment.
China is building a fleet of aircraft carriers, perhaps the largest and most modern of the Type-003, which it is building in Shanghai. It is expected that this model will be larger than the previous two models, which were designed according to the "Russian Kuznetsov model."
In the first two models, China used a design that simulates the design of the Russian Konetzov aircraft carriers. However, the new carrier is expected to adopt an advanced design for launching electromagnetic aircraft, similar to the EMALS aircraft launch systems developed by General Atomics for the US Navy, The US Navy now uses them in Ford's aircraft carriers.
The electromagnetic launch system is expected to assist larger fighters, such as the "Chi An Ki J-600" early warning aircraft launched from an aircraft carrier. China is also expected to use new types of fighters and UCAVs.
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