According to information that has emerged in recent hours based on satellite imagery and various reports, the aircraft carrier Shandong (CV-17) of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) reportedly entered a dry dock at the Yulin naval base, located on Hainan Island, to undergo repair and maintenance work. This would be the first time that an aircraft carrier has used this new infrastructure, marking a significant milestone for the PLAN’s logistical support and sustainment capabilities.
According to the reports, Shandong was observed inside a large dry dock, apparently built between 2017 and 2022, with an approximate length of 375 meters and a width of around 78 meters. This facility has reportedly been used until now for the maintenance of large surface combatants of the Chinese Navy and the Coast Guard, but had not previously been employed for aircraft carriers, which further underscores the importance of this development.
For analysts, the use of this new dry dock highlights the Chinese Navy’s efforts to expand its support infrastructure for large surface units. Until now, this type of work had been concentrated mainly at shipyards in the northern part of the country, such as those in Dalian, so the use of the Yulin base represents a significant step toward decentralizing aircraft carrier maintenance and strengthening naval presence in the South China Sea.
Sustained operations of the aircraft carrier Shandong
Prior to entering dry dock, CV-17 maintained intense operational activity throughout 2025, taking part in large-scale exercises alongside its escort ships and the embarked air wing. These maneuvers included naval aviation training, during which at least 10,000 flight operations were reportedly conducted, integration with destroyers and frigates, and deployments to areas of high strategic sensitivity, which would have increased the need for technical inspections and maintenance tasks.
It is important to note at this point that Shandong was officially commissioned in December 2019, becoming the first aircraft carrier built entirely in China and the second unit of its type to enter active service with the PLAN, following Liaoning (CV-16).
After several years devoted to testing and training, Shandong carried out its first operational deployment to the western Pacific in 2023, a key milestone to validate its ability to operate beyond waters close to the Chinese mainland. That deployment included air wing operations and navigation in strategic areas, laying the groundwork for the role the carrier would later assume in the larger-scale exercises and deployments recorded during 2024 and 2025.
Finally, this development comes at a time when the Chinese Navy continues to expand and modernize its aircraft carrier fleet, with Fujian (CV-18) continuing to advance its operations as it tests systems following its entry into service. The combination of new units, reinforced support infrastructure, and increasingly sophisticated maintenance cycles reinforces the signal that Beijing is seeking to consolidate a sustained, long-range naval aviation capability.
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