WeaponSpecs
Warship China flagChina

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)

Type 002 Shandong

China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, a refined and enlarged derivative of the ski-jump Liaoning (itself a modernized Soviet Kuznetsov-class hull) with improved hangar capacity and island design for J-15 fighter operations.

In service since 2019 · 1 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

66,000

t

31

kn

2,600

crew

Several performance figures for China-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Chinese state channel

State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.

Channel: State export agency

Fielded & proven

Limited · 1 operator

In service since 2019. Status: active · ~1 built.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Compatible munitions & weapons

Publicly reported weapons the Type 002 Shandong can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.

J-15 carrier fighter Z-18 helicopter

Full specifications

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Firepower specifications
Main armament

Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.

Close-in weapon systems and short-range air-defense missiles

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Physical specifications
Length

Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.

305 m

Naval

Displacement, speed, endurance and diving depth.

Naval specifications
Displacement

Standard displacement in tonnes, the ship’s size class. Larger hulls carry more but cost more and are less agile.

66,000 t
Full-load displacement

Displacement fully loaded with fuel, stores and munitions.

70,000 t
Max speed

Top speed in knots (surfaced, for submarines). Higher aids positioning and screening.

31 kn
Stronger than 89% of warships
Complement

Crew size. Fewer eases manning cost; more may indicate a larger, more capable platform.

2600
Aircraft carried

Embarked aircraft/helicopters. Higher extends the ship’s sensor and strike reach.

44
Top 7% of warships
Propulsion plant

Machinery type, nuclear reactor, gas turbine (COGAG), CODAG, diesel-electric, AIP.

Conventional steam turbine

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Sensors & avionics specifications
Radar

Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art.

Type 346A AESA radar
Sensors

IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.

integrated mast sensor suite

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Program specifications
Units built

Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.

1
Stronger than 16% of warships
Operator countries

Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.

1
Stronger than 45% of warships

Specifications compiled from public China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

Compare with rivals

See how it stacks up

Frequently asked questions

What is the main armament of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 002 Shandong? +

The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 002 Shandong's primary weapon is the Close-in weapon systems and short-range air-defense missiles.

What is the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 002 Shandong used for? +

The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 002 Shandong is a warship typically used for air superiority.

How many countries operate the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 002 Shandong? +

The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 002 Shandong is operated by 1 countries.

How much does the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 002 Shandong cost? +

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Type 002 Shandong: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.

Similar systems