Satellite images show China building a big aircraft carrier believed to be its first modern flattop

Reuters

Chinese navy warships and fighter jets during a military display in the South China Sea.

• Satellites images obtained and analyzed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies show China's third aircraft carrier, likely be its first modern flattop, under construction at Jiangnan Shipyard.
• CSIS, like the Pentagon, believes the new carrier will be much larger than its predecessors and include a catapult aircraft launch system.
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The construction of a new, larger aircraft carrier - likely be China's first modern flattop - can be seen in recent satellite images of Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.

While China has not officially acknowledged work on a new aircraft carrier, Chinese state media first confirmed rumors of a "new-generation carrier" in November. The US Department of Defense reported last week that this new carrier is indeed under construction.

Read more: China has a 3rd aircraft carrier in the works, and it could be a really big deal, Pentagon reveals

Satellite images obtained and analyzed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies provide additional confirmation, as well as the first apparent view of the new carrier.