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flight decks that once thundered and boomed with jet aircraft are silent. The passageways and compartments where thousands of sailors worked, ate and slept are empty. The once meticulously swept and kept decks are worn and torn, some covered in bird droppings. The names of the Navy’s seven decommissioned non-nuclear aircraft carriers conjure up well-earned reputations as Cold War bulwarks. And while at least some are the objects of preservation efforts, chances are slim more than one will survive as a museum ship. The rest are taking up valuable pier space, and the only thing the Navy wants now is...

The first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) of the Navy was floated out at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), at a low-key event attended by senior shipping and naval officers on Thursday. Among those present were Union Shipping Secretary K. Mohandas; Rear Admiral K.N. Vaidyanathan, Director General, Naval Design; and Commodore K. Subramaniam, Chairman and Managing Director of CSL. The floating ceremony was followed by a meeting to review the progress in the work being done on the aircraft carrier, a 40,000-tonne fleet air defence platform of the Navy, which will be named after the legendary INS Vikrant. The Union Shipping...

US Sends Aircraft Carrier Into The Strait Of Hormuz, As Iran Beats Its Chest Robert Johnson Dec. 29, 2011, 7:56 AM USS John C. Stennis Iran has announced it located a U.S. aircraft carrier moving into the Strait of Hormuz during Iranian wargame exercises. The AFP reports Commodore Mahmoud Mousavi, spokesman for the exercises, says the carrier was spotted by an Iranian reconnaissance plane that took photos and video. A spokesperson for the U.S. Fifth Fleet confirmed the carrier is the USS John C. Stennis, a nearly 1,100 foot nuclear powered craft with unlimited range and 3 million gallons of...

France is in the running for two aircraft carriers in Brazil Brazil would continue to modernize its armed with the acquisition of two conventional aircraft carriers. Paris is a candidate and sees an opportunity for the Rafale. It is a vessel type CATOBAR that France could sell in Brazil. © Thalès / DCN © Thales / DCN Government services and the French manufacturer DCNS, domestic manufacturer of military ships, followed with great attention intentions in Brazilian aircraft carrier. At this point, this country has only one ship of this type, São Paulo, former French Foch. Although refurbished, it is a...

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...

Russia sends aircraft carrier to Lebanon, Syria 2011-11-28 In December a vessel group led by the Northern Fleet’s aircraft carrier “Admiral Kuznetsov” will sail to the Mediterranean and the Russian naval base of Tartus in Syria. The mission has nothing to do with the deadly violence in Syria between forces loyal to President Bashar Assad and the opposition, a naval spokesman told Izvestia. - This was planned already in 2010 when there were no such events there. There has been active preparation and there is no need to cancel this, the spokesman said, adding that "Admiral Kuznetsov" will also visit...

Defence cuts: Carrier 'fully operational in 2030' Britain may be without a fully operational aircraft carrier until 2030, according to a report published by the Commons spending watchdog. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says two carriers being built will cost more, offer less military capability and be ready much later than planned. It says the Royal Navy will be without a carrier until 2020, which may not be fully operational until 2030. The PAC also says the cost of scaling back the carriers is not fully known. The committee said the adjustments made to the vessels meant just £600m cash...

Aircraft carrier pilot: One day of life November 18, 2011 Vladimir Ruvinsky For the first time in 17 years, a young pilot took part in the exercises in the Barents Sea involving the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. An RIR correspondent was on board to talk to the naval fighter pilots. the 25-tonne machine has to land on a 36-metre landing strip; you have to touch the strip at a certain angle and at a certain speed. Source: ITAR-TASS “My wife will give me my marching orders soon”, naval pilot Stanislav Avdin says jokingly when asked about his service. “I leave...

The Italian Carrier, the F-35B and The Future 10/31/2011 by Ed Timperlake ”Can’t anybody here play this game?” Casey Stengel More than three months have passed since Undersecretary Robert Work’s July 7th 2011 Memo “Navy Tactical Air (TACAIR) Portfolio Analysis-Warfighter Capability and Affordability Trades” http://www.sldforum.com/2011/08/under-secretary-of-the-navy-robert-works-july-tac-air-memo/ The memo was written while U.S. forces were engaged in combat in Operation “Odyssey Dawn” over the skies of Libya. (On the nature of Libyan coalition operations see http://www.sldinfo.com/the-libyan-operation-comparing-the-french-and-usmc-experiences/ or http://defense.aol.com/2011/10/06/marine-libya-lessons-short-command-control-links-stovl-flexibi/). But it is important to first put the Undersecretary’s Memo in proper context. Naval Academy Midshipman during “Plebe Summer” for my generation at Annapolis...

The Indian Navy seems to be sceptical of using nuclear energy for its aricraft carriers, though it plans to commission the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant in December. “Installing nuclear technology on a ship involves a huge design issue and high cost,” Admiral Nirmal Verma, the Chief of Naval Staff, told DC after inaugurating the India International Regatta here. “We have restricted the use of nuclear technology to submarines, where it helps to create endurance under water,” he said. Admiral Verma said the indigenously built warship INS Satpura was commissioned two months ago, while the refurbished Admiral Gorshkov, renamed INS Vikramaditya,...

Aircraft carriers, naval aircraft and austerity Rome, Italy - The project F-35 Lightning II is dying, the Harrier in retirement: what will Italy embark on the "Garibaldi" and on the "Conte di Cavour"? (WAPA) - In recent weeks several media reported the withdrawal from the Libyan-Mediterranean war theater of the aircraft carrier "Garibaldi" (displacement of 13,000 tons, daily expense of 135,000 euros), which had been operating for about three months against the Gaddafi forces with six AV8-B Plus "Harrier II" fighter jets (no longer in production). The "Garibaldi" was replaced by the support ship "San Giusto" (8,000 tons, three helicopters...

American aircraft carriers remain essential to commanding the seas By Robert O'Brien 1:09 PM 09/16/2011 Last month, the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis rendezvoused in the Pacific with Carrier Strike Group-3, which is composed of the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay and the USS Pinckney, USS Kidd, USS Dewey and USS Wayne Meyer. Carrier Strike Group-3 will soon take up station in the Arabian Sea to support American combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. En route, the carrier and its escorts have shown the flag in the Philippines and Malaysia and sailed boldly through the South China Sea, which...

Japan to Build New Helicopter Carrier Japan plans to build a 19,500-ton aircraft carrier capable of housing helicopters after China launched its first own aircraft carrier, Chinese media reported on Wednesday. Japan already has two helicopter carriers -- the Hyuga deployed in March 2009 and the Ise deployed in March 2011 -- but the planned new vessel will be bigger. The 22DDH is scheduled for deployment in 2015. It will be 248 m long and cost around US$1.04 billion. It is 30 percent bigger than the Ise and can carry 14 helicopters. The Ise measures 197 m, has a displacement...

China 'to Build Bigger Aircraft Carrier' China has just refurbished an old Soviet aircraft carrier and is now expected to build a bigger one on its own that can house large surveillance planes. The Hong Kong-based Mingpao newspaper on Thursday cited the U.S. military website Strategy Page as saying China will build an aircraft carrier even larger than the Varyag that can carry a 21-ton early warning aircraft. The website said China is also speeding up development of naval fighter jets, including homegrown early warning aircraft. A key example of this drive was the KJ-200 early warning aircraft, which is...

China to start landing drills on aircraft carrier (AFP) – 12 hours ago BEIJING — The Chinese military could launch air exercises on the nation's first aircraft carrier which was unveiled earlier this week, state media reported. The manoeuvres could include aircraft approaching the ship, landing and then quickly taking off again, the Global Times newspaper said, citing a military source said to be closely involved with the landing drills. The aircraft carrier embarked on its inaugural sea trial on Wednesday, prompting the United States to call for an explanation amid concerns about the nation's military expansion. Beijing only recently...

On August 14th, 1912, the United States launched its first aircraft carrier, the USS Langley. This 11,500 ton ship served during both World Wars until its luck ran out near Java in 1942 and had to be abandoned and sunk in order to avoid capture by the Japanese. Almost one hundred years later, China has just launched its first aircraft carrier and the U.S. State department is demanding to know why. "We would welcome any kind of explanation that China would like to give for needing this kind of equipment," said Victoria Nuland, a State department spokeswoman. Let me give...

China sent its first aircraft carrier to sea, a defining moment in its effort to become a top-tier naval power that seeks to challenge U.S. military supremacy in Asia and protect Chinese economic interests that now span the globe. The carrier, based on an empty hull bought from Ukraine, sounded its horn three times as it plowed through fog around the northeastern port of Dalian early Wednesday to begin its first sea trials, according to a Twitter-like service by the state-run Xinhua news agency. China's carrier, designed to carry about 2,000 people and 50 fighter jets, is dwarfed by the...

Days after sea trials for China's first aircraft carrier Varyag caused heightened tension in the South China Sea, a second carrier is stirring up interest in the country. But the Kiev, although like the Varyag a former Soviet aircraft carrier, is welcoming guests in its new role as a leisure facility. Billed as China's first aircraft carrier hotel, the Kiev has undergone a £9.6million refit, reports the South China Morning Post.

US seeks transparency on China's first aircraft carrier IANS | Aug 11, 2011, 06.20AM IST WASHINGTON: The US is worried by the lack of transparency about China's first aircraft carrier, which made its maiden voyage on Wednesday, the US state department has stated. "We want to see more transparency. We would welcome any kind of explanation that China would like to give for needing this kind of equipment," said US state department Victoria Nuland. "This is part of our larger concern that China is not as transparent as other countries. It's not as transparent as the United States about its...

China's first aircraft carrier starts sea trial By Marianne Barriaux (AFP) – 4 hours ago BEIJING — China's first aircraft carrier has begun its inaugural sea trial, the defence ministry said Wednesday, a move likely to stoke concerns about the nation's rapid military expansion. Beijing only recently confirmed it was revamping an old Soviet ship to be its first carrier, adding to worries among its neighbours over the country's military build-up and growing assertiveness on territorial issues. "According to trial plans, the first sea trial will not take long," the defence ministry said in a statement. "After returning to the...

9 commanders for China's first aircraft carrier Created: 2011-8-6 1:26:17 Author:Yang Jian NINE top Chinese naval captains are to take command of the country's first aircraft carrier in turns. The vessel, which is near completion, will be used to train pilots and crews for future aircraft carriers. The nine, of senior colonel or higher rank, are graduates of the country's first warship academy class in 1987 for aircraft carrier commanders, the International Herald Leader, a Beijing-based newspaper, reported yesterday. The Varyag, a vessel bought from Ukraine in 1998 which is being fitted out at a shipyard in Dalian in northeast...

China, Casinos and the Ark Royal August 4, 2011 By Harry Kazianis China has a history of buying old aircraft carriers as casinos, only to end up studying them. Is Britain's Ark Royal next? For decades now, aircraft carriers have been the dominant symbols of military power and technological strength. Nations who develop them have the ability to strike their enemy from thousands of miles away, inflicting massive damage. But these vessels also cost billions of dollars to develop and several billions more in maintenance and upgrade costs over their lifecycle. Recent reports over the curious decommissioning and sale of...

New Delhi, Aug 2 (PTI) The construction of the first indigenous aircraft carrier ''Air Defence Ship'' at Cochin is scheduled to be completed by December after which the 40,000 tonne vessel will be launched, the Lok Sabha was informed."Regarding the ADS being constructed at the Cochin Shipyard limited (CSL), 75 per cent of hull work has been completed and is expected to be launched in December 2011, after which further work will be undertaken prior to its commissioning," Defence Minister A K Antony said yesterday in reply to a query.He said Indian-made warship quality steel was now available in the...

India given choice to pioneer naval Typhoon jet LONDON/NEW DELHI: In anticipation of winning the Indian Air Force's $10.4 billion tender for 126 combat jets, European consortium EADS has offered India a choice to pioneer a project for a naval version of the Eurofighter Typhoon that is in the fray in what is being described as the "mother of all defence deals". Typhoon's competitor in the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender, the French firm Dassault's Rafale, already has a naval version that is operational on France's lone nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Officials of BAE Systems, one of...

China's Defense Ministry said its first aircraft carrier would be used for "research, experiments and training" and would not affect its defensive naval strategy, in an apparent attempt to ease regional concerns that the vessel could be used to enforce Chinese territorial claims. Senior Col. Geng Yansheng, a Defense Ministry spokesman, also confirmed for the first time that Chinese pilots were training to operate from the carrier, which is based on an empty hull bought from Ukraine, and which is due to start sea trials this summer. But he said it would take a long time to become fully...

China has started construction of its first domestically made aircraft carrier, according to diplomatic and U.S. government sources. China has set a national goal of building a stronger navy and aims to expand its maritime interests. This year, China will likely begin test-sailing a midsize aircraft carrier - the Varyag - that it bought from Ukraine, the sources said. When the domestic carrier is completed, the Chinese Navy will have two aircraft carriers in its fleet. The addition will likely raise concerns in neighboring countries, including Japan, whose ties with China have been strained over the Senkaku Islands, and Vietnam...

Navy's £10bn new aircraft carriers could face the axe because of cash shortfalls By Ian Drury The Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers could be axed because of cash shortfalls, a damning report warns today. Britain’s spending watchdog said the 65,000-tonne floating fortresses were ‘vulnerable’ unless ministers boosted defence spending. The National Audit Office expressed ‘deep concerns’ over the future of the warships which have already been delayed until 2020 to save money. The NAO warned that the cost of the carriers could spiral to over £10billion – more than twice the original bill. Cash fears: An artist's impression shows what...

Russia to build nuclear aircraft carrier by 2023 The Russian navy has one conventionally powered aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov © RIA Novosti. Oleg Lastochkin 11:20 30/06/2011 ST PETERSBURG, June 30 (RIA Novosti) Russia will complete construction of its first nuclear powered aircraft carrier by 2023, the head of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation said on Thursday. “We will start designing the Russian aircraft carrier in 2016, so that by 2018 we can start construction,” company head Roman Trotsenko said. He also said that as the construction period was likely to be five years, the carrier would be put into service...

Should We Be Afraid of China's New Aircraft Carrier? Not yet. BY ABRAHAM M. DENMARK, ANDREW S. ERICKSON, AND GABRIEL COLLINS | JUNE 27, 2011 Six months ago, Gen. Liu Huaqing -- the father of China's modern navy and its commander from 1982 to 1988 (and, according to the state-run People's Daily, "a distinguished member of the CPC, a seasoned loyal Communist fighter, an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, politician and strategist, and an excellent leader of the Party, the state and the military") -- passed away. Liu sought to build China's navy first into a "green water" fleet and, eventually, into...

China’s J-15 No Game Changer June 23, 2011By Gabe Collins & Andrew Erickson The Chinese military's J-15 Flying Shark fighter is no great leap forward. Still, it suggests blue-water ambitions. Following is a guest entry from Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, co-founders of China Sign Post. Gen. Chen Bingde, Chief of Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has reportedly said that, for the first time, a Chinese ‘aircraft carrier is under construction.’ China is also already preparing the refitted ski-jump carrier Varyag, purchased from Ukraine in 1998, to go to sea. Given these developments, it seems a good time...

Nitin Pai: General Liu can close his eyelids If aircraft carriers are a platform for a country to project hard power far beyond its shores, submarines are an effective way to deny them space Nitin Pai / New Delhi June 13, 2011, 0:42 IST China’s new aircraft carrier should surprise only those who were not looking — it has been China’s largest open secret for several years now. It has – thanks to Google Earth –, that the partially-completed Soviet-era vessel that China’s Chong Lot Travel Agency bought for $20 million in the late-1990s, complete with designs, was not really...

Asia's new carriers pick up steam By Greg Waldron on June 9, 2011 6:09 PM Two big news items today, one about China's new aircraft carrier, the other about India's. China, more or less, confirmed its carrier programme. Although the former USSR carrier Varyag is clearly visible in Dalian - apparently a great view is available from the bedroom section of Ikea - the country has never officially acknowledged the ship, though it has been crawling with workers for years. What's more, the ship has a new phased array radar and bristles with other antennas. The Chinese language Hong Kong...

Aircraft carrier symbol of China's naval ambitions By Damian Grammaticas BBC News, Dalian It is the most visible symbol of China's rising military power. The giant, grey hulk of China's newest warship, 60,000 tonnes of steel, sits at a dockside in the port of Dalian, almost ready to set sail. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been reluctant to say anything about its first aircraft carrier as it has not yet entered service. But it must be the military's worst-kept secret. It is there for all to see, somewhat incongruously, right behind Dalian's Ikea superstore. The huge carrier has been...

We should share aircraft carrier, say French Britain and France are set to share an aircraft carrier as part of plans for far closer integration between the two navies, the head of France’s fleet has said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. Admiral Pierre-Francois Forissier also disclosed that the French navy was amazed by the swath of cuts last year that severely reduced the Royal Navy with the axing of aircraft carriers and Harrier jump jets alongside warships. “From a French standpoint, I have to say that we were really stunned because the Royal Navy has always been a...

Aircraft carriers gain clout in naval power By SLOBODAN LEKIC The Associated Press 6:01 a.m. Sunday, May 8, 2011 ABOARD THE CHARLES DE GAULLE — Despite growing controversy about the cost and relevance of aircraft carriers, navies around the world are adding new ones to their inventories at a pace unseen since World War II. The U.S. — with more carriers than all other nations combined — and established naval powers such as Britain, France and Russia are doing it. So are Brazil, India and China — which with Russia form the BRIC grouping of emerging economic giants. "The whole...

ANALYSIS: China’s new aircraft carrier changes strategic map RISING THREAT:：While it may be years before China’s aircraft carrier provides any real threat, it joins the J-15 fighter jet in ratcheting up the risks for US forces in the region By J. Michael Cole / Staff Reporter Mon, May 02, 2011 - Page 3 Reports last month that China’s first aircraft carrier could embark on its maiden voyage sometime this year, added to speculation that the Chinese navy’s first -carrier-based aircraft could be operational by 2015, point to the high likelihood that Taiwan’s security dilemma is about to become even more...

Navy personnel begin training on refurbished Admiral Gorshkov With the Navy set to induct aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov by 2012, the first batch of Navy personnel have begun training on the refurbished vessel in St. Petersburg, Russia. "The first group of 152 sailors and officers have started their training on-board INS Vikramaditya in Russia. The training comprises four months of theory and almost a similar period of practical exercises on the ship," naval spokesperson told PTI here on Thursday. The group comprises sailors and officers from technical branches of the Navy who will train on the Gorshkov christened as INS...

Ming Dynasty admiral spooks Taiwan By Jens Kastner TAIPEI - A proud China is set to launch its first aircraft carrier. For Taiwan, the carrier's most frightening aspect could be its name. For years, military enthusiasts flying over the seaport city of Dalian in northeast China knew well when to press their noses against the cabin windows. On the approach to Dalian's Zhoushuizi airport, the construction of China's first aircraft carrier could be spotted, with workers busy along the length of the 302-meter long, 70.5-meter wide ship. They installed engines and other heavy equipment, completed the radar mast, installed the...

Aircraft carrier: A mind-boggling building job By Chris Summers BBC News In a shipyard in Scotland the future of the Royal Navy is slowly taking shape. But the construction of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is a mammoth task. Imagine an aircraft carrier as a 65,000-tonne jigsaw puzzle and you have got a good idea of the scale of the building of HMS Queen Elizabeth. The pieces are being built at six shipyards around the UK and will be slotted together at Rosyth in Fife using an enormous crane which was transported by sea from China. Around 10,000 workers...

70-year dream of aircraft carrier close to reality Minnie Chan and Julian Ryall in Tokyo Apr 7, 2011 Twenty high-resolution pictures of China's first aircraft carrier, the 67,500-tonne Varyag, appeared on the Xinhua website yesterday, with captions saying the vessel was almost finished and expected to sail this year. It was the first time official state media reported on the nation's first aircraft carrier project as well as indicating its construction progress at a shipyard in Dalian , Liaoning . The Xinhua report came as Japan's National Institute for Defence Studies released its annual strategic review, which said the influence...

US naval aviation back on the rise © Northrop Grumman How Northrop Grumman sees the carrier deck of 2020 Retired Vice Adm Robert Dunn remembers being called to the Secretary of the Navy's office. It was 1989 and the US Navy was still at the peak of its Cold War, 600-ship glory. Defence spending, however, was already in decline and the navy's top civilian, Henry Garrett, had a tough decision to make. As deputy chief of naval operations for aviation, Dunn's portfolio included two projects for a carrier-based, long-range strike aircraft - a re-engined Grumman A-6E Intruder called the A-6F...

Ten sailors were injured yesterday when a jet fighter's engine exploded as it prepared to take off from an aircraft carrier. The F/A-18C Hornet was starting a training exercise when the accident occurred on the flight deck of the USS John C. Stennis, in waters off California. Four sailors were flown to Naval Medical Center San Diego where they were in stable condition.

LONDON, - The British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal can be yours, courtesy of the U.K. Ministry of Defense auction Web site, authorities said. The former flagship of the Royal Navy was decommissioned two weeks ago years as part of the government's defense budget review after serving with the fleet for 25, the BBC reported. Interested auction bidders can view Ark Royal at her home port, Portsmouth Naval Base, on May 3 and 4, authorities said. Bidders wishing to inspect the carrier must submit an outline of their "intentions regarding the vessel" to the Ministry of Defense, the BBC said....

France's floating frontline against Libya's Gaddafi Sun Mar 27, 2011 By Elizabeth Pineau ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER CHARLES DE GAULLE (Reuters) - Dressed in a khaki uniform and protective helmet, a French pilot emerges from the Rafale fighter jet that just landed on the deck of the Charles de Gaulle carrier, back from another mission over Libya. A dozen mechanics scramble to assess the plane: the fuel specialists wear red, the maintenance crew green and the on-deck traffic controllers wear yellow, barking orders that have earned them the French nickname "yellow dogs". A Hawkeye radar plane is next to land, soon...

France sends carrier to Libya, conducts more flights 8:59am EDT By Elizabeth Pineau and John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - France sent an aircraft carrier toward Libya on Sunday and its warplanes carried out further operations over the north African country, armed forces and defense officials said. The Charles de Gaulle carrier, the flagship of the French fleet, left the southern port of Toulon at around 1200 GMT, carrying around 1,800 crew members and some 20 aircraft. The carrier was accompanied by an attack submarine, several frigates and a refueling ship, defense officials said. "The French operations continue," said a source...

China's surging military space program is poised to challenge U.S. aircraft carrier operations in the Pacific, as Chinese military spacecraft already gather significant new radar, electrooptical imaging, and signal intelligence data globally. During 2010, China more than doubled its military satellite launch rate to 12. This compares with three to five military missions launched each year between 2006 and 2009. Since 2006, China has launched about 30 military related spacecraft. Its total of 15 launches in 2010 set a new record for China and for the first time equaled the U.S. flight rate for a given year. Most U.S. public...

Think Tank: Japan is an aircraft-carrier power Chinadaily.com.cn, March 9, 2011 Japan has been formally classified for the first time since World War II as an aircraft-carrier power by a leading Western international affairs think tank. Japan has one Hyuga-class aircraft carrier, according to Military Balance 2011, an annual report published on Tuesday by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) assessing the military capabilities and defense economics of 170 countries worldwide. The annual report is an essential resource for those involved in security policymaking, analysis and research. Classifying Japan as an aircraft carrier power means China now has...

INS Vikramaditya Starts Dock Trials in Severodvinsk Posted by M Pyadushkin at 3/4/2011 12:24 PM CST From March 1 Kiev-class Vikramaditya (ex-Russian Admiral Gorshkov) aircraft carrier started dock trials, reported the Severodvinsk-based Sevmash facility that is retrofitting the ship for the Indian Navy. According to Sevmash’s head of construction Dmitry Strelchenko, the most difficult and important part of the trials will be the testing of the main propulsion system. In addition, the manufacturer will check the ship’s electronic warfare system, including the Indian-made ones, and the flight deck facilities. “The goal of the dock tests is to prepare the ship’s...

Spain's Aircraft Carrier Begins Air-naval Certification Campaign Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 2/14/2011 9:28 AM CST The Juan Carlos I, Spain's amphibious aircraft carrier launched on September 30, 2010, is undergoing year-long sea trials and last week started the process of gaining its air-naval certification. The first helicopter landed aboard on February 8 at 10:51. Other helicopters from the 6th Squadron (Hughes 500) and the 3rd Squadron (AB-212) then followed. Commander Emilio Aceña Medina brings his helicopter in to land on the Juan Carlos I. Photo credit: Spanish Navy The next phase will involve landing and take-off of Harrier AV-8B...

The development of carrier aviation during the 20th century led to a dramatic paradigm shift in military capability. For the first time, navies had the ability to exert their influence far over the horizon – supporting land campaigns and allowing hostile fleets to be engaged from beyond the range of a battleship’s guns. From Pearl Harbor to more recent conflicts in the Falklands and the Middle East, the carrier and its aircraft provide commanders with an unrivaled ability to project military and political influence; several acres of sovereign territory which can be moved close to potential trouble spots at short...