Replies

Re: The real practical strategic value of China’s carrier may be to improve the survivability of the PRC’s ballistic missile subs.

Man!!! Can it be that big of a secret with the refurbished Varyag? I mean even a blind person can figure where the ChiCom’s are going with the induction of a carrier to their fleet. Simply by looking at [the deadly, sophisticated, and cutting edge appointments] they’ve appointed to that once stripped hull, the answer is clear — the Varyag is no HMS Vikrant and it’s no HMS Giuseppe Garibaldi...

The ChiComs have picked up where the Russians have left off and they have advanced, technology-wise, beyond even that which the Russians had in mind for a blue water navy.

I foresee a fleet of up to 60 plus such low cost platforms by 2050 and the objective: They’ve feel they’ve been pushed around much and, they are determine to [not lock horns with the Americans] but to level the playing field with them.

60+ CVs, or SSBNs? I think you're being sarcastic with that (I don't think the US has ever had more than 20 fleet CVs operational at one time, which was at the end of WWII and at the height the Cold War the US had an SSBN force in the 40 range (41 For Freedom)) but don't know for sure.

Varyag is an inherently defensive platform that has enough capability to push some of the ChiCom's smaller neighbors around - and ONLY if the US doesn't decide to rattle sabres back at them. If the ChiComs are able to product two indigenous CVs by 2020 or 2025 they still won't have the capability to go toe to toe with the major regional military powers (US, Japan, Australia and even Taiwan), with the possible exception of India, let alone win an offensive war of aggression with them.