Posted on 07/04/2013 3:44:31 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
China certifies first aircraft carrier pilots
China has certified its first pilots deck crew for aircraft carrier operations following a 25-day training deployment by the nation's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning.
During the cruise, pilots "executed several continuous take-off and landing exercises, making China one of the few countries in the world that can train its own carrier-borne jet pilots", according to a statement on China's defence ministry website.
The certifications were awarded to five pilots and an unstated number of landing signal officers after they were tested on skills related to the operation of fixed wing aircraft from a warship.
The aircraft used in the exercise - the Shenyang J-15 - is based on Russia's Sukhoi Su-33, although Beijing has claimed that the J-15 is based on China-developed technologies.
In late 2012, Beijing mounted a public relations campaign around the first flights from the Liaoning, which was originally built by the Soviet Union as the Varyag.
China has said that it intends to use the vessel primarily to train pilots and sailors for carrier operations, as well as to develop carrier doctrine.
In April, a senior Chinese navy official said that Beijing plans to have an aircraft carrier that is larger and can carry more aircraft than the Liaoning.
"The next aircraft carrier we need will be larger and carry more fighters," said Song Xue, deputy chief of staff of the Chinese navy.
Song added that Beijing's future carriers will embark not only fighters, but "reconnaissance aircraft, anti-submarine aircraft, electronic countermeasures planes, and rotary-wing aircraft". A composite air wing such as this demands a carrier with catapult assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) capability. The only nations that operate such warships are the USA, France and Brazil.
The Liaoning is a short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) carrier, which limits its air wing to fighter aircraft and helicopters. Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system aircraft such as the US Navy's Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and other essential support aircraft require a ship that has CATOBAR capability.
China is learning very fast.
We need to stop outsourcing American jobs to China, bring them back here, and be strong.
The world will get more challenging soon.
That is my prediction.
Obama’s vision for Naval Air?
ketch tair rook ha ha
Brazil has a carrier?
Been operating them for more than 50 years, if I’m not mistaken.
ping...
65, isn’t that off the enterprise?
might be...
The interesting aspect to all this however is, China is the only country in the world currently listed in Wikipedia, as having future aircraft carriers on the way.
So while America is at the peak of our sea power, and Russia is well off their peak, China is growing.
That is the aspect which needs to be paid attention to. China has 4 or 5 times the population of America. Perhaps as many as four carriers, in various stages of readiness (only one done right now)
That means Chinese build-ups can happen at remarkable speed.
China is not currently challenging us internationally, nor does it post a global threat yet.
But China is growing.
Please keep her on your radar. That is all I am saying.
Here is a link to future Chinese carriers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_programme
I tried to find the GIF....there is one out there somewhere
yup... and i'm almost sure my racebuddy was there that day! he was an A&P for the Vigilante Squadron and i remember him telling me about it
Can’t wait for the Chinese “Top Gun” movie.
hell yeah, see post#16 
think it’s a dodge
The Chinese are spending 2.5% of GDP on defense, compared to Japan’s 1%, and they’ve overtaken Japan on total GDP. The Japanese had better get their act together, budget-wise, or they’ll find themselves outgunned and outnumbered when the balloon goes up.
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