The Chinese Navy (PLAN) is Transforming the VARYAG into an operational aircraft carrier

The Rising Sea Dragin in Asia Web Site ^ | March 3, 2007 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

HISTORY-TRANSFORMATION
In 1991, when the Soviet Union dissolved, the second full-size aircraft carrier for the Soviet Union, the Varyag-sister ship to the Kuznetsov, was under construction in the Ukraine. Withe the Soviet demise, the Ukraine inherited the incomplete vessel but did not have the finances to complete her. In 1992 a Chinese delegation visited the Ukraine in the hopes of coming to terms on a purchase price of the unfinished vessel. A suitable purchase price was not agreed upon. Later, in 1998, the Chong Lot Travel Agency, a supposed Maccu firm, bought the Varyag from the Ukraine for $20 million dollars with the stated intention of making the Varyag a casino for commercial profit. As it turned out, Chong Lot had no offices in Maccu and was simply a front company for a Hong Kong firm called Chinluck Holding Co. Ltd. As it also turned out, the managing directors of Chinluck, had strong ties to the Chinese navy. It took three years for the front firm, Chong Lot Travel, to get permission to tow the Varyag through the Istanbul Straits and on to China. That permission was finally granted in 2001 and the following pictures document what has occurred to the Varyag since.

The Ukrainian Carrier Varyag in Ukraine Naval Yards, approximately 70% complete, prior to being towed away by Chong Lot Travel Agency.

The Chong Lot Travel Agency tows their newly purchased and rusting Varyag through the Istanbul Straits in late 2001.

The Varyag arrives in China at the end of its long voyage and is docked in the Chinese Naval shipyards at Dalian and in 2003
work begins on the vessel. In this time frame, not surprisingly, Chong Lot goes out of business.

Work continues on the Varyag in the Dalian naval shipyards throughout 2004, with several large cranes participating.

The Vayag spends several months of very expensive time in dry dock in the Dalian naval shipyards in 2005.

The Varyag emerges from dry dock painted in official Chinese Navy colors and the work of refitting her continues.

More painting and refit work contiues on the Varyag, now in official PLAN colors in 2005 and with flags flying for a VIP visit.

A Zinc Chromate primer is applied to the main deck in 2006 in Dalian. This is a primer for a non-skid surface to keep aircrafft from skidding off
of a carrier's main deck. Note the large storage and logistics facilities that have been constructed dockside to the right and behind the carrier.

The Zinc Chromate primer is covered over in 2006 in the Dalian naval shipyards.

The final non-skid surface appears to have been added to the Varyag's main deck in late 2006.

Varyag looking very trim and squared away in late 2006 at Dalian naval shipyards..

The forward portion of the Varyag in early 2007 in Dalian. The hull and flight deck seem to be nearing completion.

AIRCRAFT
In October of 2006, the Kommersant online newspaper in Moscow announced a deal between Russia and China where the Russians sell up to 50 Su-33 fighters to China for $2.5 billion. Details seem to indicate that China will spend $100 million to buy two Su-33 fighters from Komsomolsk-on-Amur Production Association for evaluation, with delivery expected in 2007. There appears to also be a fairly firm option for 12 more Su-33 fighters, with the potential for the deal to add another 36 SU-33s. In that event, the deal would total the $2.5 billion. The SU-33 fighter is the navalized version of the SU-27 fighter that China has purchased in large numbers from the Russians and now license builds themselves. It is the same fighter that the Russians use on their carrier, the Kuznetsov, which is the older sister ship to the Varyag. In addition, over the last two years, the Chinese have been negotiating with the Russians regarding the KA-31 helicopter, which is the helicopter the Russians use on their carrier for AEW duties. The Chinese have also introduced designs for prop-driven AEW aircraft of their own similar to the United States E-2 Hawkeye aircraft. The continuing efforts by the PLAN to obtain navalized, carrier fighters and AEW aircraft from Russia (or design their own), coupled with the recent completion of a non-skid surface on the flight deck of the Varyag, and its painting in official PLAN colors, make it abudnantly clear that this vessel, at some future date, will be China's first aircraft carrier.

In 2005 and 2006 the Chinese negotiated with the Russians to purchase SU-33 naval fighters for carrier operations, receiving special demonstations at Moscow and Chinese military airshows.

Throughout 2005 and 2006 the Chinese negotiated with the Russians regarding the KA-31 helicopter which is used for early warning (AEW) purposes, the same AEW helo the Russins use on their carrier.

ESCORTS
WHile all of this has been occuring, the PLAN has embarked on a phenominal naval ship building and modernization program, simultaneously working on ten to twelve new classes of major combatants and building several of each at one time. This program has already developed and launched all of the necessary modern classes of guided missile destroyers, guided missile frigates, attack submarines, and supply ships to form the basis for a very powerful carrier strike group once a carrier is available...and to defend and supply it in the blue water, as the following pictures attest.

Two new modern, AEGIS-like area air defense destroyers for the PLAN, equiped with VLS and PAR. These ships would be very capable as escorts for a carrier.

Two of four modern and very powerful Russian destroyers built for the PLAN, specifically designed to hunt super-carriers.

Two new PLAN multi-purpose guided missile destroyers suitable for carrier escort duties and capable in ASuW, AAW, and ASW.

Two of six new PLAN multi-purpose guided missile frigates with VLS AAW and suitable for carrier escort duties in ASuW, AAW, and ASW.

PLAN nuclear attack submarines, older HAN class (5) and two of the new Type-093 class capable of escoprt duties for a PLAN carrier.

The new class large at sea replenishment ships for the PLAN, capable of replenishing a PLAN carrier strike group.

CONCLUSIONS
It is this author's and researcher's opinion that the Chinese Navy (PLAN) will launch the Varyag in the 2008-2010 time frame and begin trials and training for her use as an operational aircraft carrier with a wing of SU-33 aircraft, perhaps modernized with vectored thrust and strike at sea and ground attack capabilities in addition to its already significant air superiority capabilites. Furthermore, this air wing will be supported by KA-31 AEW helos operating off the carrier in conjunction with other ASW and SAR helicopters. This training will be ongoing for several years as the PLAN gains experience in carrier operations, and will prepare them for the introduction of one or more of their own indigenous carrier later in the 2010 decade, which will include Chinese indigenous navalized aircraft and their own, more capable AEW and EW aircraft.

Jeff Head is an engineering consultant with many years experience in the power, defense, and computer industries. He currently works for the federal government helping maintain and protect regional infrastructure. He is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and is also the author of a self-published and best-selling series of military techno-thrillers called the Dragon's Fury that projects a fictional third world war arising out of current events. You can learn more about that series by clicking on the pictures of the novel covers below:

THE DRAGON'S FURY SERIES

Copyright © 2007 by Jeff Head

AVAILABLE AS A FREE ADOBE EBOOK DOWNLOAD TO ALL FREEPERS ---> HERE

[mad_as_he$$]

Oh I agree. Were I am enemy of the US I would worry about the array of weapons that we have and can bring to bear. The problem as I see it is that many tinpot countries have extremely good capabilities - that they bought. One lucky shot - which will happen sooner or later - and we have a carrier in deep trouble with no way out but the Straits of Hormuz.

[Jeff Head]

I have been speaking of and against this practise for several years.

For example, the Spruance destroyers, among the quietest most effective ASW platforms we had have all been decommissioned, many of them with 10-20 years service life left in them. The majority of them have been sunk in live fire exercises. IMHO it is a sad day when you see sites like these...

Of the 79 vessels you mention, 19 of them were these very effective ASW destroyers, built at great cost to the US taxpayers, and capable of providing a significant reserve...but not from the bottom of the sea. We are doing ourselves (sinking these mangificent warships) what any enemy would lose a war to try and accomplish.

Spruance DD 963 - class disposition

Ship's Name	Hull Number	Homeport / Status
SPRUANCE	DD 963	decommissioned, sunk as target
PAUL F. FOSTER	DD 964	decommissioned
KINKAID	DD 965	decommissioned, sunk as target
HEWITT	DD 966	decommissioned, scrapped
ELLIOT	DD 967	decommissioned, sunk as target
ARTHUR W. RADFORD	DD 968	decommissioned
PETERSON	DD 969	decommissioned, sunk as target
CARON	DD 970	decommissioned, sunk during tests
DAVID R. RAY	DD 971	decommissioned
OLDENDORF	DD 972	decommissioned, sunk as target
JOHN YOUNG	DD 973	decommissioned, sunk as target
COMTE DE GRASSE	DD 974	decommissioned, sunk as target
O'BRIEN	DD 975	decommissioned, sunk as target
MERRILL	DD 976	decommissioned, sunk as target
BRISCOE	DD 977	decommissioned, sunk as target
STUMP	DD 978	decommissioned, sunk as target
CONOLLY	DD 979	decommissioned
MOOSBRUGGER	DD 980	decommissioned, scrapped
JOHN HANCOCK	DD 981	decommissioned, scrapped
NICHOLSON	DD 982	decommissioned, sunk as target
JOHN RODGERS	DD 983	decommissioned, scrapped
LEFTWICH	DD 984	decommissioned, sunk as target
CUSHING	DD 985	decommissioned
HARRY W. HILL	DD 986	decommissioned, sunk as target
O'BANNON	DD 987	decommissioned
THORN	DD 988	decommissioned, sunk as target
DEYO	DD 989	decommissioned, sunk as target
INGERSOLL	DD 990	decommissioned, sunk as target
FIFE	DD 991	decommissioned, sunk as target
FLETCHER	DD 992	decommissioned
HAYLER	DD 997	decommissioned, sunk as target

[Jeff Head]

See post 162 if you want to get even more worried/upset.

...and I would not limit it to the straits there in the PG. The Chinese are building an effective and modern blue water navy...while we sink many of our own vessels.

[LIConFem]

"Varyag" sounds like a Klingon Battle Cruiser.

Pretty ship, though.

[B-Chan]

Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

[B-Chan]

There are private jets and motor yachts that cost $20M...

[LIConFem]

A-firmative!

[SlowBoat407]

What did the Chinese rename the Varyag?

The Bill Clinton

[Dr._Joseph_Warren]

This cannot possibly be true.

Just last night, I heard on NPR that China doesn't have the military budget to support a carrier fleet.

NPR wouldn't lie to us.

/sarcasm

[Jeff Head]

hehehe...obviously NPR is either looking at pictures more than 5 years old, or they are clueless...or they have a different agenda.

Maybe all three.

[rmlew]

What the heck were we doing skining the improved Spruance destroyers with VLS tubes?
These are useable ships which could still be upgraded.

[Jeff Head]

Yep...but not any more. All decommissioned and oly six or seven even left afloat. We also sank the USS America CV and the USS Belleau Wood LHA as well, both of which could have easily been kept in reserve as servicable, commissionable vessels for emergencies.

[Jeff Head]

What is equally disturning, IMHO, perhaps even more so, is that in the face of this Chinese buildup, we are sinking scores of perfectly good vessels with a lot of service life in them.

The VLS Spruances were GREAT ASW and anti-surface warfare (particularly ground) vessels. No reason they shouldn't be in an active reserve role.

See post 162 and be prepared (IMHO) to cringe.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Suicidal Hubris to put it diplomatically!!Those hulls still have atleast 15 years of useful life in them.Heck,the US could have sold them off to Taiwan,Turkey or even Indonesia.Upgrade the sensor suites & arm em with ESSM,RAM & ASROCs.It would have made a perfect defensive ship.

[Jeff Head]

It is unbelievable. I can understand perhaps using one or two for sinking with studies for water-tight integrity, structural soundness, effetiveness of weapons, etc...but to sink 19 of them? Unbelievable and I belive almost criminally derelect.

[WLR]

It is worse than dereliction of duty..


This is going on across the board all branches is is a deliberate effort to destroy serviceable equipment..

Then cry about the need for new platforms.

This ship destruction is the most dramatic and probably costly however..

The Army destroyed, gave away all the medium tanks it had.. M48 & M60 series tanks that were with the Guard.. Only one thing. in the Case of the 60A3s until the most recent upgrade they had a Superior fire control thermal imaging system.

The 48 & M60 can stay on station longer (days not hours before refueling) Both the M60 and M48 medium tanks with the addition of the Blazer UpArmor package can support troops in Urban Combat better because their Main Guns (105) carry more ammunition.. a wider variety of ammunition effective on building and bunkers. Troops can stand behind them, use the TI Phone to help direct the crew onto a target.

Oh yes a 90mm would be better but the troops can still be relatively close to a 105mm and not be permanently damaged by it's firing the 120mm on the M1 does permanent damage and does not have the variety of shell and carries 20 less total.

Pathetic... Criminal.


Oh and they can still be had fully refurbished for 20% of the cost of an M1 from Greece who retrofits them.

The Army Generals gave them away, dropped them in the ocean as reefs and blow them up...

The M113 APC still in service in Iraq? the Army has been trying to give 1000 to the Air force to shoot as targets. The rest some 14700 sit in yards here in the US while we buy Stryker CrapOmatics.

Shameful, Unbelievable..

Damn the eyes of those who are acting with such malfeasance.

W

[Jeff Head]

We are going to need all of those destroyers one day. We have 50 BUrkes, but that is it. The Spruance class were great ASW platforms and great for land attack, freeing up the Burkes for their primary pupose which is AAW defense of the CSG.

In addition, we have taken all of the S-3 aircraft out of service from the aircraft carriers. Their long legs for ASW and loiter capability and the amount of ordinance they carried will be sorely missed in CSG ASW defense. With the SPruances gone and the S-3s gone, there is a huge hole (IMHO) in our carrier strike group ASW defense...and to me, that is equally derelict.

The CHinese see all this and are responding by building more and more modern major combatants.

Here is a good pictorial representation of the current difference in our naval strenmgthening strategies:

CHINA'S SHIPBUILDING AND MODERNIZATION VERSUS THE US PROGRAM

China's solution to naval moderinization--- US solution to naval modernization

[Jeff Head]

We are going to need all of those destroyers one day. We have 50 BUrkes, but that is it. The Spruance class were great ASW platforms and great for land attack, freeing up the Burkes for their primary pupose which is AAW defense of the CSG.

In addition, we have taken all of the S-3 aircraft out of service from the aircraft carriers. Their long legs for ASW and loiter capability and the amount of ordinance they carried will be sorely missed in CSG ASW defense. With the SPruances gone and the S-3s gone, there is a huge hole (IMHO) in our carrier strike group ASW defense...and to me, that is equally derelict.

The CHinese see all this and are responding by building more and more modern major combatants.

Here is a good pictorial representation of the current difference in our naval strenmgthening strategies:

CHINA'S SHIPBUILDING AND MODERNIZATION VERSUS THE US PROGRAM


China's solution to naval moderinization--- US solution to naval modernization

[Robert A Cook PE]

You can fairly easily replace shafts in drydock (All you need is a long enough drydock.)

Pulling the prop's simply makes it much easier to tow. Again, (noisy) surface ship props are easy to make if you make them already for merchant ships.

Rudders are easy: simply big chunks of steel and plate. Machining is only needed for the rudder stock, which is a simple lathe job.

I could see the Ukraine pulling diesels maybe, pumps or the like, but the rest would be cheaper to leave in place. Boiler technology is not very complex for a people with a determination to do it: and the ability to copy US turbines and generators from their power plants. And we KNOW they have been doing that.

[Jeff Head]

Well, with the news today that Chinese military is saying a large deck carrier operating by 2010...we will find out soon enough.

...and it almost has to be the Varyag, unless they have somehow managed to conceal from sat and intelligence and the common man a carrier construction somewhere else (very doubtful).