Assisted by several tug boats, China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning sets out from the Dalian Shipyard in Northeast China’s Liaoning Province for a voyage test on February 29, 2024. Full-scale mockups of a J-35 fighter jet and a J-15 fighter jet can be seen on the carrier’s flight deck. Photo: VCG

China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, reportedly embarked on a sea trial on Thursday after a full year of refurbishment, with observers saying that the lengthy overhaul likely enabled China's next generation stealth fighter jet to operate on the carrier.

Assisted by several tug boats, the aircraft carrier set out from the Dalian Shipyard in Northeast China's Liaoning Province and started a voyage test on Thursday, Hong Kong-based news website wenweipo.com reported, attaching several photos taken by its on-site reporter.

It marked the first voyage by the carrier since it had returned to the shipyard for maintenance and upgrades on February 28, 2023, a full year ago. The carrier is expected to shift its role from being a training carrier to a combat carrier, the report said.

"When departing from the shipyard, the Liaoning carried full-scale mockups of a J-35 fighter jet and a J-15 fighter jet on its flight deck," wenweipo.com reported. The aircraft mockups could also be seen in the photos.

Citing a navigation notice released by the local maritime safety administration, the report suggested that the voyage test could last until March 9.

A full year of refurbishment means that complicated upgrades were applied to the Liaoning, rather than simple maintenance, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

The appearance of a J-35 fighter jet mockup indicates that this type of aircraft with obvious stealth designs will likely be added to the carrier's aircraft fleet, the expert said.

China's third aircraft carrier, the electromagnetic catapult-equipped Fujian, is expected to carry this next generation stealth fighter jet. And now, China's first two carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, which use ski-jump ramps to assist takeoff, may also get them, observers said.

This will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the PLA Navy's aircraft carriers, experts said.