[Jeff Head]

Initially it will be a political tool and a show piece to sail around the world...but they will use that time...as long as they have...to develop their skills. They are building a blue water fleet, and they are working the ASW issue. Clealry, with or without the carrier, they have to. They will use that expertise as it decvelops, on surface and sub-surface units to try and defend their carrier.

We dare not underestimate and cavalierly right off such an adversary who has the money and the developing engineering and manufacturing skill...and who is currently using those skills to build modern combatants in an unprecedented numbers.

[ChinaThreat]

What will be interesting is when they sail this thing off the coast of California about 100 miles out.

[GOP_1900AD]

Tu-95s can be used for ASW. There have been rumors of talks with the Russians, around either a sale or a license, for years.