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The Chinese announced today that their new stealth fighter made first flight while Def. Secretary Gates was in country. Takes off at 3:06, touch and go at 4:30 in the following video. CHINESE J-20 STEALTH FIGHTER IN 1ST FLIGHT

(Click on any image for a larger picture) The year of 2010 has seen the PLAN ramp up its shipbuilding again significantly. New units of the Type 054A FFG Guided missiles Frigate, the Xuzhou Class with radar reducing signatures, VLS missiles and helo capabilities. New units of the Type 052C DDG Guided missile Desroyer, the Lanzhou Class with VLS, Phased Array Radar (PAR), and an AEGIS style battle management system. New units of the Type 093 SSN, Nuclear attack Submarine, the Shang Class, with improved reactors, sensors, and weapons suite. New units of the SSK Independent Air Propulsion diesel/electric...

<p>One of the principle issues that the Chinese Navy has been experiencing in the development of their many new classes of warships is the ability to defend them adequately, particularly close-in.</p> <p>They have developed verticle launch systms (VLS) for medium and long range engagements, they have developed Phased Array Radars (PARS) and the acquisition and guidance systems for them. They have developed gatling gun Close in Weapons Systems (CIWS), but to date, they had not developed a strong, short range but effective close in weapon missile system that compares with the west.</p>

THE RISING SEA DRAGON IN ASIA - 2008 UPDATE By Jeff Head - Last Update: January 2, 2008 Throughout 2007 the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has concentrated on integrating its newest surface combatants into its various fleets, while introducing new combatants simultaneously. In particularly, the newer nuclear attack and ballistic missile submarines have been officially seen and photographed, punctuating the PLAN's continued advance and improvement of its nuclear submarine capability, while continuing to build and add new diesel electric submarines. It's new Landing Ship Dock and now new, associated LCAC craft are being integrated into the fleet. The...

I am putting together a comprehensive comparison and analysis site regarding the face off in the Taiwan Starits between the Taiwan Navy (ROCN) and the Red Chinese Navy (PLAN). I include in the analysis and the comparison, the likely surface combatants that the US would send to the assistance of Taiwan in the event of agression by the Red Chinese. Please take a look by clicking on the logo below and let me know what you think: Also, please feel free to refer others who have questions or interest regarding this potential flashpoint in toda6y's world. It is clear, in...

Proposal for an affordable, scalable, and capable replacement of Ticonderoga AEGIS cruisers PROPOSED AEGIS REPLACEMENT CRUISER, USS SHANKSVILLE By the late 20-teens, the vaunted Ticonderoga cruisers of the United States Navy will begin to apporach the end of their service life. DDX and CGX programs and their DD21, DD1000, and CG21 alternatives are all languishing on cost basis. CURRENT AEGIS CRUISERS (Oldest is over 20 years old) With the successful introduction of the KDX-III, Sejong class AEGIS DDGs for the Republic of Korean Navy (ROKN), which the United States worked closely with, it is clear that a cruiser size variant...

China says aircraft carrier possible by 2010: paper Wed Mar 7, 1:00 AM ET China could build its first aircraft carrier by 2010 if current research and development proceeds smoothly, a Hong Kong newspaper quoted a Chinese general as saying on Wednesday. The Beijing-funded Wen Wei Po newspaper identified the source as a "zhong jiang," meaning lieutenant general or vice admiral, depending on the service, and a member of the military delegation at a parliament session in Beijing. It did not give further details. Experts say China's military has been researching carriers for years as a way to protect its...

THE RISING SEA DRAGON IN ASIA - 2007 UPDATE By Jeff Head - Last Update: February 24, 2007 Throughout 2006 and into 2007 the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has continued its unprecedented modernization and buildup, adding two entirely new classes of major combatant warships to its inventory, along with the other twelve new classes they have been working on. Large numbers of new guided missile destroyers, guided missile frigates, fast attack craft, very modern and quiet diesel/electric attack submarines, nuclear attack submarines, nuclear ballistic missile submarines, logisitic support craft, amphibious assault craft, and the infrastructure and aircraft to...

<p>In 1988, 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.</p>

The Dragon's Fury Series by Freeper author Jeff Head has been re-written, revamped, and re-released as a single Harback Novel of 800 pages. The original story is largely the same, with new content, an update for current geo-political-technical conditions, new artwork, and removing any specific date-centricity. There are forewords by best selling freeper authors Larry Schweikart (LS) and Matthew Bracken (Travis McGee) which read as follows: By Larry SchweikartCo-Author of, A Patriot’s History of the United States Author of, America's Victories: Why the U.S. Wins Wars and Will Win the War on Terror From the moment an unholy alliance...

Russia’s state exporter of weapons, Rosoboronexport is completing negotiations to ship to China up to 50 Su-33 jet fighters for a total worth of $2.5 billion. If the deal is ever clinched, it will be the second biggest contract for export of Russia’s armaments. Till late this year, China will buy in Russia two Su-33 jet fighters on trial for the aircraft carrier that is currently constructed. The deal value is around $100 million, sources close to negotiations said. Bound by the very tough confidential agreements on military cooperation, Rosoboronexport doesn’t comment on the talks. But the sources say the...

The Rising Sea Dragon in Asia 2006 Update I have been keeping a major web site up regarding the growth of the Chinese NAvy for the last four years. This is the 2006 Update. Throughout 2005 and 2006 the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has continued its unprecedented modernization and buildup, working on and procuring twelve seperate classes of major combatants. Increasing numbers of new guided missile destroyers, guided missile frigates, fast attack craft, very modern and quiet diesel/electric attack submarines, nuclear attack submarines, nuclear ballistic missile submarines, logisitic support craft, amphibious assault craft, and the infrastructure and aircraft...

To show continued gratitude to all Freepers who value the constitution and who are actively engaged in preserving it...either through service to their country, dialog with their friends, relatives and neighbors, online activism, protesting against foerign and domestic enemies of our constitution and way of life, corresponding with legislators and other elected or appointed officials, and just to say thanks to all of those on FreeRepublic who have encouraged and helped me in my own activities...I am extending my free ebook download offer at: JEFF HEAD FREE EBOOK DOWNLOAD for my following two published books: THE STAND AT KLAMATH FALLS...

For those following the continuing development and re-outfitting of the former Russian carrier Varyag in the Chinese naval shipyards, this photo should prove very interesting: That new yellow painting on the deck is a special primer used (normally) for laying down a non-skid surface on the deck of the carrier. If this proves to be true...then that is another clear indication that the Chineze intend to commission her militarily and to operate military combat aircraft off of her decks. This development is in addition to the two new carriers the Chinese have announced they wikk be building of their own.

As a way of saying thanks to the good members of FreeRepublic who have supported me both while I was involved at Klamath Falls, and while I wrote my Dragon's Fury Series of novels about the dangers Red China poses, I am going to offer a free Adobe eBook version of either or both of those books, "The Stand at Kalmath Falls", and "The Dragon's Fury Series Collectors Edition" (which includes all five volumes) to any registered Free Republic member who would like them. I will email them to anyone who asks and informs me via FRemail. DO NOT put...

SHANGHAI, China - China and Iran are close to setting plans to develop Iran's Yadavaran oil field, according to published reports, in a multibillion-dollar deal that comes as Tehran faces the prospect of sanctions over its nuclear program. The deal is thought potentially to be worth about $100 billion. According to Caijing, a respected financial magazine, a Chinese government delegation is due to visit Iran as early as March to formally sign an agreement allowing China Petrochemical Corp., also known as Sinopec, to develop Yadavaran. The Wall Street Journal also reported in Friday's editions that the two sides are trying...

The PLAN is readying the former Russian carrier Varyag for something. These pictures show the exterior painting now being completed in the standard PLAN surface combatant colors, with the superstructure preparing to be painted. They have been working on the project in their naval shipyards for over two year now.

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...

In a show of strength to save itself from demise, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rolled out its sinister plan prepared for years, a plan in which the Party makes an insane gamble from its deathbed. It did so in the form of a “speech” posted on the Internet (see Boxun.com of April 23, 2005). The “speech” consists of two parts: “The War Is Approaching Us” and “The War Is Not Far from Us and Is the Midwife of the Chinese Century.” The two, judging from their echoing contexts and consistent theme, are indeed sister articles. The “speech” describes in...

An unprecedented decision by the Bush administration to allow serving military officers to work at the United States' de facto embassy to Taiwan would "poison" ties between Beijing and Washington, China has charged. For the first time since the U.S. ended its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in favor of communist China almost 27 years ago, a serving military officer will shortly join the staff of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a quasi-official organization set up by Congress to fulfill the functions of an embassy in Taipei. Taiwanese media quoted AIT spokeswoman Nadine Saik as confirming that a U.S. Army...