Navy role for China's carrier later this year

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

CHINA'S refitted aircraft carrier will begin serving in the navy officially this year, senior military officials said yesterday.

Fighter jets will soon be involved in sea trials that have been running smoothly so far, Xu Hongmeng, deputy commander of Chinese navy, said.

"The military authority plans to let the aircraft carrier be commissioned this year," Xu said in Beijing.

A Ministry of Defense spokesman said previously that the carrier would be used mainly for scientific research and training pilots for future carriers.

Military experts believe the carrier will be commissioned on August 1, China's Army Day, and will serve in the South China Sea. It has yet to be named.

Photographs posted online have shown aircraft and helicopters landing on the deck of the carrier in the port of Dalian in northeast China.

Chinese J-15 fighters, which military experts regard as the most ideal aircraft for the carrier, took part in short-distance take-off and landing exercises late last year, the Beijing-based Legal Evening News said yesterday.

The vessel will have fighting capability only after fighters can land and take off from the carrier, said carrier expert Zhang Yao, senior researcher at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies.

The carrier has taken part in four sea trials in the Yellow Sea since its first one last August.

The vessel will be capable of carrying around 30 fighters and helicopters and carry a crew of around 2,000.
The Admiral Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier was bought from Ukraine in 1998 as an empty shell and has been refitted for its role as a research and training platform. All weapons and radar systems and other equipment on board were made in China.

China still has a long way to go to have its home-produced aircraft carriers, because it needs to adapt to new development trends in development, Xu Xiaoyan, a People's Libration Army lieutenant general, said yesterday. "China will need at least three aircraft carriers," Xu said.

Major General Luo Yuan, a researcher with the PLA's Military Science Academy, said: "It is fully possible for China to build more aircraft carriers based on the country's economic power."

Navy role for China's carrier later this year - People's Daily Online


I didn't expect that it enter service so earlier ..I thought it's just a scientific research and experimental vessal

 

[Fanling Monk]

If China can build a 30 story building in 15 days, nothing she does will surprise me.

 

[Tractor]

If China can build a 30 story building in 15 days, nothing she does will surprise me.

Well,a Carrier is rarely about speed of constructing but really about quality,coordination and maintenance.

 

[aimarraul]

 

[sms]

Navy role for China's carrier later this year - People's Daily Online


I didn't expect that it enter service so earlier ..I thought it's just a scientific research and experimental vessal

True!! China always amazes world by the speed it works! We always thought it is floating casino as published earlier

I need a clarification - there is a big gap between sea trials and induction to Navy. 1 Aug is date of full fledge induction (FOC) or just the date on which sea trails will start.

 

[canadian icehole]

What's the typical number of sea trials that carriers/ships go through? I'm only aware of 4 - 5 trials for this boat and commission on August 1 this year seems like a rush. I'm waiting for pictures of China's other two carriers which is rumoured to be in construction.

 

[SinoChallenger]

Is South China Sea ready for our new carrier battle group?

 

[S.Y.A]

does it carry 30helos + 30 fighters or overall 30 aircraft?

 

[SinoChallenger]

does it carry 30helos + 30 fighters or overall 30 aircraft?

30 fighters + additional helicopters (~10 I think). The grammar in the article is ambiguous.

 

[nomi007]

early congratulation from me

 

[S10]

Is South China Sea ready for our new carrier battle group?

This is a training vessel, so they probably won't do it. Once we operate it for a few years and get the hang on carrier deployment, we can start building them in numbers.

 

[Paan Singh]

i read that it will be in service in september

 

[sweetgrape]

In fact, in 20 years, I hope it will be the trial carrier, not only for trainning the professial personnel, but for the weapon. whether home-made j16 is good? The carrier-based AEW should be tested and verified, and too many system should be tested and verified and according to the result, they should be improved gradually. All these need a lot of time, we should be patient. We should have a time-table, but I am against the behavior that driving time limit. Harst would waste time, we have wait more than 30 years, why can't wait another 1~2 years?!!!

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

In fact, in 20 years, I hope it will be the trial carrier, not only for trainning the professial personnel, but for the weapon. whether home-made j16 is good? The carrier-based AEW should be tested and verified, and too many system should be tested and verified and according to the result, they should be improved gradually. All these need a lot of time, we should be patient. We should have a time-table, but I am against the behavior that driving time limit. Harst would waste time, we have wait more than 30 years, why can't wait another 1~2 years?!!!

Indeed, train and form a battle group will take alot of time, there is no such rush to push it into service or declare operation status while pilots still need to learning on how to take off and landing in real condition especially battle rush condition, I'm not military expert i could be wrong? I really dont undertand Gorverment's intention : to show off or to send some signals to other counrtries...