China has nearly completed the restoration of an old Soviet Kuznetsov Class aircraft carrier, the Varyag, and could make its first sea trip very soon, Kanwa Information Centre head Andrei Chang has said.

The 990ft-long aircraft carrier will be used for training and will also serve as a model for China’s first indigenously built nuclear-powered ship.

Originally built for the Soviet Navy, the carrier’s armoured hull, with no engine, electrics or propeller, was bought by China in 1998.

The renovation process included fixing the boilers, electricity, electronic systems, living quarters and engines as well as the ship’s radars, whilst also refurbishing the hull and deck of the ship.

The Kanwa Information Centre monitors China’s military.