Posted on 11/18/2010 10:41:06 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Aircraft carrier plan shows China naval ambitions
By Sebastien Blanc (AFP)
BEIJING The new generation of combat aircraft China proudly showed off at the Zhuhai Air Show in the country's south this week could soon be taking off from a prestigious runway: an aircraft carrier.
Beijing has become increasingly assertive in its ambitions on the high seas -- as demonstrated by recent tensions with old rival Japan -- but still lacks this naval centrepiece.
This looks set to change.
Although it has not officially announced as much, China is working on a carrier and Western experts believe it could be launched as early as next year, though not in a fully operational state.
It is a former Soviet aircraft carrier called the Varyag, currently being refurbished in the port city of Dalian in northeast China.
Rick Fisher, a Chinese military expert at the International Assessment and Strategy Centre in the United States, told AFP the Pentagon estimates China's carrier will start operations by 2015.
"This is a reasonable projection. China could have enough of the carrier air wing flying by that time to start developing carrier operating procedures and fighting tactics," he said.
Fisher said that Chinese leaks to media in Hong Kong and Japan last year indicated that Beijing plans a five-strong carrier fleet, including two nuclear-powered vessels.
Arthur Ding, an expert on the People's Liberation Army, which operates the country's navy, said owning an aircraft carrier is a prestige issue for China, whose 2.3-million-strong military is already the world's largest.
This is particularly so when neighbours -- and rivals -- including Japan and India are already equipped with them, said Ding, of National Chengchi University in Taiwan.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
“...where it is being refurbished...”
Doesn’t it have to be furbished first? Doesn’t look furbished to me. It’s an empty hull.
The Japanese have only small helicopter carriers...and that's NOT an Aircraft Carrier.
Additionally, the purpose of an aircraft carrier is power projection against hostile opposition.
I contend the English, French, Italians, Russians...or any country other than the US and Japan have ever achieved that standard.
Under your standard, our LHA and WASP class ships are "legitimate" aircraft carriers...completely unable to defend themselves in a power projection role and completely without "strike" capability beyond 200miles inland...and CERTAINLY not against a hostile air force.
Yes, against the Argentine Air Force of the 1980s...the Harrier was a match.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hy%C5%ABga_class_helicopter_destroyer
A helicopter carrier in all but name...
I have nothing but respect for the men of the JSDF. Thanks to Japan's institutional pacifism, military service in Japan is neither prestigious nor a gateway to more gainful employment in later life. It is strictly a blue-collar job that carries a social stigma, yet the requiremnts for service are challenging and only the best applicants are chosen. Only the most dedicated and selfless men would seek out such employment.
Not entirely unique. Hyuga (except for it's not going to carry aircraft - heh) is a functional duplicate of the Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi
Assuming it doesn't get cancelled, the F-35B will be MUCH more capable than the Harrier. It will be a real game-changer.
The new LHA’s have eliminated the well-deck in favor of expanded aviation stores and hangar space. They will be much more capable vessels to support the F35B/Harrier.
Not explicitly for the sake of access to women, but for grandiose, breathtaking, adventure that takes some of the “extra” young men’s attention away from their own lack of access to women, I’d guess. They won’t be out raiding for female slaves to drag back home, but their government will likely try to distract them with heroic, masculine enterprise that’s almost as satisfying as doing the sex to a woman body.
Similar layout, but some differences. The Hyuga and Ise are quite a bit larger (18,000 tons vs 13,800 tons) than the Giuseppe Garibaldi. They are also have a heavier missile armaments with 16 VLS tubes. Interestingly the Giuseppe Garabaldi carries 16 AV-8s or 18 helicopters. Ise and Hyuga only have a compliment of 14 helicopters. Italy like Japan was forbidden from operating aircraft carriers after WWII. And build the Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1981 to get around the same restrictions. The Italians changed their constitution (I think in the late 80s or early 90s) and built a larger 30,000 ton ship. However it is still a mixed use vessel rather than a single use aircraft carrier.
Functionally, not than many Similar size, machinery, hanger size and layout. 2 or 3 CIWS mounts. 2x3Torplaumchers
Missiles:
Garibaldi SAM 16 Aspide(+32 reloads)+ Otomat SSM
Hyuga SAM 16 ESSM(+? reloads)+ ASROC SUW
ping
Japan’s military is technologically advanced and you said, it’s probably the second best. Problem is that it’s seriously lagging in offensive capabilities.
The Japanese have indicated no solid plans to outfit F-35s to the Hyuga or other baby flattops. Other than the political dimension, the fact is that these ships remain very small to support anything more than a handful of F-35Bs. Besides I think they would need to modify the ships with a ski-jump for optimal performance.
There’s no point talking about Japan’s achievements in WW2. In the present day, only US and French (one ship) carriers have the capability to launch high performance aircraft into combat. Russia’s sole carrier has the specifications but little or no meaningful deployment record. The Harrier carries used by some countries (Italy/India/Spain/Thailand) would be limited to air defense/support of US operations).
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