Is China building a carrier?

Jane's Defence ^ | 12 August 2005 | Andrew Koch

[Jeff Head]

Is China building a carrier?

By Yihong Chang JDW Correspondent &
Andrew Koch JDW Bureau Chief
Hong Kong & Washington, DC

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.

JDW believes that PLAN technicians have also conducted thorough studies of the basic structure of the Varyag during the past few years to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the carrier's structural design. Former PLAN commander General Liu Huaqing stated in his memoirs that China had purchased blueprints for the carrier - a fact that Russian sources confirmed to JDW. Moreover, Gen Huaqing added: "The competent departments of the defence industry employed Russian aircraft carrier designers to come to China and give lectures."

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. A military strategist from a Chinese military university has commented publicly that the Varyag "would be China's first aircraft carrier".

Yaryag undergoing work through 2004 in the Dalian Shipyards


Varyag after movement to another shipyard in 2005

[Jeff Head]

It was out of service for a long time...and fallen into a state of disrepair. In addition, the Ukraine had stripped it of engines, weapons, props, etc.

But not damged in the classical sense.

[MikefromOhio]

Don't tell the ChiComs, but we would sink their little boat without even seeing it....

[Eastbound]

The UN refused to classify this ship as a floating casino after becoming suspicious when the inspecting team pulled one of the slot machine handles and it launched three missiles. ;>

[warchild9]

Just my point. Even the communists are betting that our carriers are fat juicy targets just waiting for a missle swarm.

[mylife]

Hehe

[Thebaddog]

They are building a carrier on a second hand hull about forty years behind us. And they are planning to go the moon while we are going to Mars.

Who's kidding who about who leads and who follows?

[dljordan]

" I acquired this photo at great risk."

That's a pretty short catapult ride there. They must really pour on the knots to get that sucker airborne.

[kcar]

Did you hear they were refurnishing this carrier port?

[dljordan]

"buying a aircraft carrier dont mean squat until you have experience in sea warfare. Which China DOESNT."

They'll be getting plenty of experience but it won't last long.

[CJ Wolf]

Well they have seen what happened to our destroyer when confronted with a small boat full of explosives.

[sure_fine]

let them build two, two carriers, two bombs, they are out alot of money

[warchild9]

I know I sound like a broken record on these fora, but their possession of our national debt instruments is a greater threat than any dozen aircraft carriers.

[mylife]

I wouldnt discount any potential enemy.

[samadams2000]

We have what 11 active carriers?

We should build 11 more.

Name the active carriers and receive the Golden Citizen Award...

[Spktyr]

Maybe, maybe not. The Varyag is a Kuznetsov-class carrier.

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=bgteb70b6tnjq?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Soviet+aircraft+carrier+Kuznetsov&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1&sbid=lc01a&linktext=%3CI%3EKuznetsov%3C%2FI%3E-class

***
Intended missions

While designated an aircraft carrier, Kuznetsov's design implies a mission different from that of either the United States Navy's carriers or those of the Royal Navy's. The Russian ship is termed by her builders to be a tyazholiy avionosnyy kreyser - a "heavy aviation cruiser" - intended to support and defend strategic missile-carrying submarines, surface ships, and maritime missile-carrying aircraft of the Russian fleet. The aircraft of the Kuznetsov are essentially constrained to air superiority operations. The lack of catapults on the Kuznetsov precludes launching strike aircraft with heavy loads, which makes it essentially impossible for aircraft to attack land or naval targets. The carrier can carry helicopters for anti-submarine operations, however, and she also carries anti-shipping missiles.
***

The air wing of a Kuznetsov-class is 16 Yak-41M Freestyles, 12 Sukhoi SU-27K, and a whole bunch of choppers - including over 20 choppers. Basically, it is a cross between one of our Tarawa-class assault carriers and our old Forrestal-class fleet carriers, with some Nimitz-class features thrown in (though it's not nuclear powered). It's intended to support and defend a sub fleet, which is what the Chinese are building. It has a LOT more defensive systems than our Nimitz class, especially after the latest Nimitz upgrades that removed the CIWS emplacements in favor of Sea Sparrow launchers. It doesn't need a task force to escort it.

[Jeff Head]

Based on what they are doing, they are fopcusing on all of the above. In one of their naval buildings they havee a large model of a full deck carrier...a Chinese full deck carrier.

Chinese artist rendering of the same

In addition, they have spent significant time and money studyoing the problem and now the Vayrag continues to be repaired. That costs money too.

Finally, the ski-jumpos at their airfields are rather obvious indications of intent.

I believe they intedn to continue there massive builduo across the board, including towards carrier development...based on their words and their actions.

[iThinkBig]

"I can't see the Chinese spending all that money on a carrier when they have so many bases around the world to develop--like in Panama and the Bahamas, for instance..."

True.

[Jeff Head]

Yes, the Kuznetsov class is a ski-jump take-off carrier...but it is 60-65000 tons, and is considered full deck using the STOAL (Short take off arrested landing) the Russians developed for theirs.

[mylife]

Nope I cant do it LoL
Enterprise? Constitution?

Our fleet is dwindling and many such as Rumsfeld feel that we need a sleeker more agile military. and I do think there is merit to the arguement.

However I would not discount any threat from china

[Stonewall Jackson]

The Chinese have spent the past twenty years studying the old ex-Australian carrier Melbourne and I believe they also purchased another old flattop a few years ago. Their engineers have undoubtedly been using these older models as hands-on classrooms for the repair of the Varyag and the construction of some homegrown carriers of their own (rumors have been persisting for the past several years that they might have already begun construction, but I haven't seen anything definite, yet).

Anyone who doesn't believe that China will not be a major threat to the United States in the next few years needs to take a major dose of reality and consider the fact that China has been wooing Mexico and many of our southern neighbors for the past few years. A build-up of several million Chinese troops on our southern border could very well be in the cards in the next decade. This carrier, and any future brethren, would go a long way toward securing a supply corridor between China and Mexico. Capture a few small islands in the Central Pacific and the Chinese will have a series of airbases to provide air cover for their convoys.

Yes, our fleet could possibly stop this scenario, or at least put a damper on their plans, but a Pearl Harbor-style assault on the US bases at Pearl Harbor, San Diego, and Bremerton would cripple the US Pacific Fleet long enough for the land war to be decided one way or another.