Within five years the Chinese Navy would possess carrier battle groups that are second to none to the United States' carrier battle groups.
The equipment and expertise are now gaining appearance and are being tested. Such a carrier battle group would include:
- Type 085 carrier (Huitong mentioned that it might feature steam catapults)
- J-15 4.5 generation fighter, fitted with the latest AESA, integrated electronics, and various fifth generation airframe enhancements
- J-21 5th generation fighter, its own equivalent of the F-35C, but much stealthier and more versatile
- Sharp Sword stealth UCAV (equivalent of X-47, military insiders confirmed its first flight to be this year)
- Z-8AEW (very powerful AESA equipped helicopter)
- Y-7 AWACS
- Type 095 submarine, adopting a very similar configuration to the newest Virginia class submarine, and carries vertically launched cruise missiles (first is under construction according to military insiders)
- Type 052D air defense destroyer: upgraded with next generation AESA, universal VLS, etc
- Type 055 cruiser: to be a very large modern cruiser equivalent to the Tico
- Type 054A frigate
The PLA Marine Corps would also commission its first Type 081 LHD, supplemented by Type 071 and destroyers.
Technology wise, the PLA Navy surface combatants would be almost comparable to the US Navy in a few years. However, it is the quantity of destroyers and equipment that we still need work on.