POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY NAVY CARRIER "LIAONING"

Description

It is the ex Russian carrier "Varyag". It was purchased at auction for US$20 million by Chong Lot Travel Agency, a company widely believed to be a front for Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Chong Lot stated that the ship would become a floating entertainment center and casino in the Chinese SAR of Macau. This was proven false as the ship was docked in Dalian and painted PLAN grey. Defense news and intelligence sources indicated that the ship had been refitted and would be put through sea trials in mid-2011. On June 8, 2011 the chief of China’s General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) confirmed that China’s first aircraft carrier was under construction. On August 10, 2011 the ship began her first sea trials. On November 29, 2011 the ship began her second sea trial under more public eye, with the first publicly available images captured by civilian satellite. The carrier "LIAONING" officially entered service on 25/09/2012 (Scale : 1/350e)