"The Chinese haven't seen this type of carrier before and it could be very useful to them. They are trying to vacuum up as much know-how as they can."
- Robert Karniol, Asia editor for Jane's Defence Weekly, 2008

The Liaoning (CV-16), is the first aircraft carrier commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force. It is classified as a training ship, intended to allow the Navy to practice with carrier usage.

Originally laid down as the Admiral Kuznetsov class multirole aircraft carrier Riga for the Soviet Navy, she was launched on December 4th, 1988, and renamed Varyag in 1990. The stripped hulk was purchased in 1998 by the People's Republic of China and towed to Dalian shipyard in northeast China. After being completely rebuilt and undergoing sea trials, the ship was commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as Liaoning with class name Type 001 on September 25th, 2012.

Pictured here is a 1:700 scale replica of the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force Liaoning class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Liaoning (CV-16) when it sailed through the South China Sea performing military drills during December 2016. Comes with a set of 1:700 scale sailors that spell out "Chinese Dream" in the Chinese alphabet. Sold Out!

Diorama Dimensions:
Length: 22-1/4-inches
Width: 7-1/4-inches

Release Date: February 2020

Historical Account: "Say it with Sailors" - The Liaoning was originally laid down as the Admiral Kuznetsov-class multirole aircraft carrier Riga for the Soviet Navy, and was launched on December 4th, 1988, and renamed Varyag in 1990. The stripped hulk was purchased in 1998 by the Peoples Republic of China and towed to Dallan Shipyard in northeast China. After being completely rebuilt and undergoing sea trials, the ship was commissioned into the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as Liaoning on September 25th, 2012.

> During its voyage through the Bohai Sea in December 2016, the crew of the aircraft carrier spelled out "Chinese Dream" in the Chinese alphabet. It is thought that the use of the ship's crew to spell out different phrases while standing atop the deck of an aircraft carrier began shortly after the conclusion to World War II.