Posted on 11/29/2011 4:30:33 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
China's first aircraft carrier starts second trial
(AFP) – 6 hours ago
BEIJING — China's first aircraft carrier began its second sea trial on Tuesday after undergoing refurbishments and testing, the government said, as tensions over maritime territorial disputes in the region ran high.
The 300-metre (990-foot) ship, a refitted former Soviet carrier called the Varyag, underwent five days of trials in August that sparked international concern about China's widening naval reach.
"China's aircraft carrier platform, after successfully completing its first sea trial in August, returned to the shipyard as planned for further refitting and testing," the defence ministry said in a brief statement.
"The work has been carried out and it set sail again on November 29 to carry out relevant scientific and research experiments."
Beijing only confirmed this year that it was revamping the old Soviet ship and has repeatedly insisted that the carrier poses no threat to its neighbours and will be used mainly for training and research purposes.
But the August sea trials were met with concern from regional powers including Japan and the United States, which called
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE VARYAG INTO AN OPERATIONAL PLAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER
And everyone knew it....Wink, wink, nod, nod!!
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Flight ops (except for helicopters) is a ways down the road. This is just the second sea trial. The first was pretty much a dud. The ship barely made it out and back under its own power.
They’ll be working up for at least six months to a year.
I was primarily referring to smaller navies like the Royal and Indian navies expressing interest in EMALS technology though they don’t plan to build nuclear-powered carriers. Who knows, the Chicms might be working overtime to get their hands on the blueprints.
But for the Varyag it is not something they can or will use. That will wait unti a larger, indegenous carrier with cats is built...at that point they will either try and create their own steam cats (the Russians tried and never got it working before they went under) or try and acquitre the technology and apply it to their design.
I personally believe that by 2020 the PLAN woill have three carrier out there.
But there efforts are causing a naval arms race in the WESPAC.
Korea, JApan, Austraili...they are all building carrier, or carrier hybrids that will be capable of carrying the J-35B.
Take a look at this artistic depiction of the new 22DDH carriers the Japanese are now building:
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