Varyag was to be an Admiral Kuznetsov class multirole aircraft carrier of the Soviet Union. She was launched December 4, 1988, but she was renamed Varyag in late 1990, after the famous Russian cruiser. Construction stopped by 1992, with the ship structurally complete but without electronics. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, ownership was transferred to Ukraine; the ship was laid up, unmaintained, then stripped. In early 1998, she lacked engines, a rudder, and much of her operating systems, and was put up for auction. It was purchased at auction for US$20 million,This was proven incorrect as the ship was docked in Dalian and painted PLAN grey. Defense news and intelligence sources indicated that the ship had been refitted and would be put through sea trials in mid-2011. On June 8, 2011 the chief of China's General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) confirmed that China's first aircraft carrier was under construction. On August 10, 2011 the ship began her first sea trials.On November 29, 2011 the ship began her second sea trial under more public eye.

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