Is China building a carrier?

Janes Defence Weekly. ^ | 8/25/2005 | Yihong Chang

[Colorado Doug]

Chinese shipyard workers have been repairing a badly damaged ex-Russian aircraft carrier and have repainted it with the country's military markings, raising the question once again of whether China is pursuing longer-term plans to field its first carrier.

In the latest developments, images show that workers at the Chinese Dalian Shipyard have repainted the ex-Russian Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Varyag with the markings and colour scheme of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy (PLAN). Additional new photographs show that other work, the specifics of which could not be determined, appears to be continuing and that the condition of the vessel is being improved.

[Mr. K]

in this day and age there are two kinds of ships- submarines and targets

[Mark Felton]

Is China building a carrier?

If so then we can thank China for placing their aircraft all in one place so we can save on anti-ship missiles.

Sunken carriers are also good for the development of coral reefs, and protection of fish.

[Enterprise]

Think of it not as a carrier but as a future artificial reef.

[Little Ray]

Sure they're building a carrier. But they are not going to repair the Varyag. Rather it will serve as a model for constructing their own units.

[Mark Felton]

To have a carrier in this age requires that you also have underwater supremacy and air supremacy.

China does not have such supremacy.

Taiwan could be provided a class of sea skimming missiles that could not be stopped sufficiently to save the carrier.

[jaydubya2]

WWW.JEFFHEAD.COM

[jaydubya2]

More specifically : http://www.jeffhead.com/redseadragon/2005.htm

[montomike]

My sentiments exactly!

[Blueflag]

Exactly.

Unless they can master air ops and fleet defense and manuvering and and and ... they simply aggregate high priority assets for targeting.

That said, however, They can project a threat, credibly, to places like the Spratley's while the politicians and diplomats wail and moan ... and do nothing to stop modern-age Chinese imperialism.

[Jeff Head]

Pretty good discussion (over 200 comments) on this FR thread here, suprisingly named:

Is China building a Carrier

Also, if you get the chance, check out the PLAN Growth and PLAN vs USN Comparison pages on this site:

Finally, a LOT of discussion about this (as you can imagine) on the following thread at the SinoDefence Naval forum:

China's first Carrier

[TexasCajun]

That and oil refineries.

(China didn't by Unocal by they did buy a Canadian company operating in kazakhstan )

So add refined oil products to American's China imports.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Well, I think it's obvious that the ChiComs are trying to make the Varyag operational as soon as possible. However, even if they manage to make it seaworthy, deploy air assest aboard, and send it out into the Taiwan Straits, without any real tradition of carrier aviation or battle group tactics, I don't think it will last long in a clash with the U.S. Navy, diminished as it is these days.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

their pilots are inept enough already, now they want them to try to do carrier landings...


Bwhahahahhaha!!!!!

[Jeff Head]

They are building such systems, sub surface and air defense and superiority, very rapidly.

Right now, in the litoral waters around the mainland, the nut is becoming harder and harder to crack.

IMHO, if we let it go on another 5-10 years as it has in the last 5-10 years...they will be in a position to challenge us over Taiwan or other places (like the Spratley's) inside the 1st island chain.

[rhombus]

Still, China's ultimate intentions for the Varyag remain unclear. One possibility is that Beijing intends to eventually have it enter into some level of service.

Gee do you think? Let's not be too hastey Janes. Sheesh, if you doubt it I'll tell you that we have no evidence Iran is making nukes, there's no relationship between Saddam and Al Quaeda... oh yes and Saddam had no interest in WMD and didn't have any of the parts needed. Oh yeah one more thing, as soon as I get the cash for that bridge I sold you, I'll send the receipt. Now get back up on your turnip truck.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks for that link. See my post 11 above.

[Nateman]

If they don't scare you yet, you should be. They bought and paid for the Clinton presidentcy and were richly rewarded for their investment. If George Soros were found to be a front for them, I would not be surprised to hear it.

[Mark Felton]

Buy Boeing stock.

Harpoon SLAM-ER; The bane of Wal-Mart

[Tatze]

Search is your friend: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1463393/posts