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karatecatman

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Chinese Ski Jump Spotted
August 12, 2009:

The wonders of digital photography (on the ground and from commercial satellites) provide evidence that China is testing the use of its Su-30 aircraft and a ski ramp type carrier deck design. China is expected to have an operational carrier soon, and it will be one using a ski ramp (instead of a steam catapult). It was suspected that there was a ski ramp training facility somewhere, now it's been located, in Xian-Yanliang. What's strange about this is the altitude of this airbase; nearly 500 meters (rather than sea level.) Then again, Xian-Yanliang is a windy place, which allows testing of the stationary ski ramp built there, with winds typical of what would be encountered when the carrier turned into the wind for the commencement of aircraft launching operations.

Late last year, China announced that its first class of carrier aviators had begun training at the Dalian Naval Academy. The naval officers will undergo a four year course of instruction to turn them into fighter pilots capable of operating off a carrier. The Russians have warned China that it may take them a decade or more to develop the knowledge and skills needed to efficiently run an aircraft carrier. The Chinese are game, and are slogging forward.

Earlier this year, the Russian aircraft carrier Varyag was renamed the Shi Lang (after the Chinese general who took possession of Taiwan in 1681, the first time China ever paid any attention to the island) and given the pennant number 83. The Chinese have been refurbishing the Varyag, one of the Kuznetsov class that Russia began building in the 1980s, for several years now. It is expected to be ready for sea trials by the end of the year.

The Varyag has been tied up in a Chinese shipyard at Dailan since 2002. While the ship is under guard, it can be seen from a nearby highway. From that vantage point, local military and naval buffs have noted that some kind of work is being done on the ship. The only visible signs of this work are a new paint job (in the gray shade used by the Chinese navy) and ongoing work on the superstructure (particularly the tall island on the flight deck.) Many workers can be seen on the ship, and material is seen going into (new stuff) and out of (old stuff) the ship. The new contracts are believed to be for more equipment for the Varyag, in addition to the non-custom stuff already going into the ship.

Originally the Kuznetsovs were conceived of as 90,000 ton, nuclear powered ships, similar to American carriers (complete with steam catapults). Instead, because of the cost, and the complexity of modern (American style) carriers, the Russians were forced to scale back their goals, and ended up with the 65,000 ton (full load ) ships that lacked steam catapults, and used a ski jump type flight deck instead. Nuclear power was dropped, but the Kuznetsov class was still a formidable design. The thousand foot long carrier normally carries a dozen navalized Su-27s (called Su-33s), 14 Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopters, two electronic warfare helicopters and two search and rescue helicopters. But the ship can carry up to 36 Su-33s and sixteen helicopters. The ship carries 2,500 tons of aviation fuel, allowing it to generate 500-1,000 aircraft and helicopter sorties. Crew size is 2,500 (or 3,000 with a full aircraft load.) Only two ships of this class exist; the original Kuznetsov, which is in Russian service, and the Varyag. Currently, the Kuznetsov is operating in the Mediterranean.

The Chinese have been in touch with Russian naval construction firms, and may have purchased plans and technology for equipment installed in the Kuznetsov. Some Chinese leaders have quipped about having a carrier by 2010 (this would have to be a refurbished Varyag). Even that would be an ambitious schedule, and the Chinese have been burned before when they tried to build new military technology in a hurry.
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karatecatman · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

The United States Arlington, Virginia, the International Assessment and Strategy Center, Senior Fellow, Richard Fischer, "Aviation Week" contains the text that the Chinese armed forces, the procurement of large amounts of armaments, making it land, sea and air power projection capabilities have been improved. The article said that China's development of power projection capabilities by controlling the main objectives of the Western Pacific, the protection of China's economic interests. However, China's move is also intended to deal with the United States naval forces in the region, and as countries such as Iran and Pakistan alliance.

The article said that the Pentagon submitted to Congress in 2009 "Report on China's military power", the U.S. Department of Defense pointed out that "China's economic development become increasingly dependent on international stability and lead to foreign markets and resources of the channel," and that China's "military started discussions with the civilian strategists in the protection of the armed forces and enhance the broader political and economic interests play a role. " The report on China's navy and the army in the use of sophisticated information technology and access to accurate weapons systems in the field of harvest, but also the expansion of China's conventional weapons systems were analyzed.

The article said that China's official and semi-official statements, military exercises and deployment, development and access to new means of power projection has been revealed this trend. At the end of 2004, President Hu Jintao said the Chinese People's Liberation Army "necessary for national security interests." In 2005, China's first invitation to Russia to the Shandong Peninsula to the name of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, jointly held a "peace mission" exercise. December 2006, China's National Defense White Paper said that the army should pay attention to the development of "cross-regional mobility," the Navy should be a strict "gradually increase the strategic depth coastal defense," the Air Force should seek a "strategic project" Capacity.

The article points out that "peace mission" part of military exercises to explain the meaning of these terms, see the People's Liberation Army is a small scale, but an unprecedented joint deployment capability. At present, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in August this year the joint military exercise held in China.

The article said that Navy Commander Wu Shengli in July 2007 in the core journals in the Chinese Communist Party "realistic" magazine said one of the Navy mission is to maintain "the security of maritime transport routes and energy strategy." Means China will be the majority of the Malacca Strait oil . December 2008, China will ship with a 052B and 052C air defense destroyers deployed in a support ship the waters the Gulf of Aden to protect merchant shipping. In April, one of the ships by a new air defense frigates to replace the 054A.

However, the article says, this is only a small naval deployment, China and the reason why the new port facilities in Burma, Chittagong, Bangladesh, and Pakistan's Gwadar port investment is likely to deploy warships in order to access the channel. In February 2009, by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Asia-Pacific deputy director of political Ye Hailin said that the Indian Ocean, is China's "sea of destiny", it is proposed through the establishment of Pakistan and Myanmar by land-based energy channels, to reduce dependence on the Malacca Strait. In March, China and Pakistan held a 10-day joint naval exercises.

The article said that Pakistan and Iran is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization "observers", if they become a full member of the organization, then the two countries and China will be able to hold more bilateral or multilateral joint military exercises.

The article maintains that in the next ten years, the Chinese naval activities in the Indian Ocean may be further strengthened, the scope of their activities and may even exceed the Indian Ocean. March 20, Defense Minister Liang Guanglie Hamada of Japan's defense minister said that "China's Navy ... ... also very weak, we need to develop an aircraft carrier." In fact, as early as the eighties in the last century, Liu Huaqing, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission as Commander of the Navy When such a development has already begun, he jokingly said: "If China does not build aircraft carriers, I wasted step."

The article said that, as far as Japan and Hong Kong media reported in January, the PLA and the Chinese shipbuilding officials said by 2020, the Navy may have made as many as four aircraft carriers, two of them for the conventionally-powered, two for the nuclear power . In addition, China in 2002, purchased from Ukraine, "Watt-liang Grid" aircraft carrier will also be refurbished, the Navy will use it to carry out relevant training.
Moreover, the article also pointed out that in April this year when a Chinese television in an interview with an expert program, one of the experts interviewed said that China may be the procurement of the aircraft carrier and "good-watt grid" similar to the construction of aircraft carrier structure. However, the program also shows another construction of a unique program. According to this construction program will be equipped with up to six aircraft carrier catapult aircraft. The article believes that China may be at a shipyard in Shanghai Changxing Island to build its aircraft carrier, and the establishment of its naval base on Hainan Island may become a base for aircraft carriers.

The article points out that China is also set up its air force aircraft. Carrier-based model of its candidates, including: an upgraded version of the Soviet Union the Russian warplanes -33, -11 F China-based aircraft carrier (which is sometimes referred to as F-fighters -13, -33 smaller than the Soviet Union, but there are stealth capability) -10 F, as well as carrier-based warplanes. It is reported from 2005 pointed out that China is developing carrier-based early warning system. Moreover, China's aircraft carrier and equipment may also UCAV. High L-15 trainer aircraft carrier is one of the candidate models. China's aircraft carrier may be other equipment designed for specific aircraft, such as Shenyang, "WarriorEagle" UAV.

The article said that the next 10 years, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy's amphibious warfare capability will be enhanced. By the end of 2006, China's first 20,000-ton ships dock landing ship Type 071 into the water: the deck of the vessel can carry a long-range military transport for the hovercraft. Following the 071-based dock landing ship into the water after, and may be the same size with the 081-type level deck amphibious landing ship (LHD). It is reported that the People's Liberation Army will initially build a 081-type 6 from amphibious ships and three 071-based dock landing ship of the fleet composition, this time with the fleet to thousands of soldiers and armored support. Marine Corps amphibious forces and the army are fitted out a new type of fast amphibious armored combat vehicles, these vehicles use spray pumps, to high-speed mobile in water.

The article said that the People's Liberation Army is also developing long-range force projection for a large transport aircraft and mechanized units. Although China has decided to Russia 32-34 procurement of the carrying capacity of 50 tons of aircraft IL -76, but the Beijing government is still in new ways to restructure its aircraft industry, to allow for heavy transport aircraft to modernize the R & D work. During this process, China has received from Russia and Ukraine, a large number of help - the Chinese side would like to An-70 military transport planes to carry out large-scale upgrade. In 2007, China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC-1) that the type of its intention to build a load weight of 60 tons, with the C-17 transport plane similar. However, the success of the project will depend on its ability to develop large-scale, high-bypass ratio turbofan engine (HighBypassTurbofan), which has been in the field of China's weaknesses.

If the budget continues to grow, to 20 years of this century, the Chinese People's Liberation Army will have to deploy an appropriate long-range naval and airborne capacity of the armed forces of mechanization. Although the Chinese People's Liberation Army might not be able large-scale projection, but still comparable with the United States lack the infrastructure, but long-range military forces, China will have access to considerable political influence.

***

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20091104-234207/Taiwan-says-China-starts-building-first-aircraft-carrier
Taiwan says China starts building first aircraft carrier

Agence France-Presse
11/04/2009

TAIPEI – Taiwan said Wednesday that its giant neighbor China has started building its first aircraft carrier, a move analysts have said could raise military tensions in the region.

The head of Taiwan's National Security Bureau told parliament construction of the carrier had begun, Lin Yu-fang, a legislator of the ruling Kuomintang party, told AFP.

However, the security chief, Tsai Teh-sheng said the carrier's construction "has not been smooth" and that the Chinese navy may struggle to put it into service by 2012 unless it makes a manufacturing breakthrough soon.

"This is the result of an evaluation not only from [Taiwan's] National Security Bureau...but also from the Chinese communists," Tsai said, according to Lin.

Taiwanese military experts expect the People's Liberation Army to take at least 10 years to have its first operating carrier group complete with carrier-based fighters and other warships.

"Once they complete the ambitious project, it will have a serious and far-fetched military impact on the region," said Wung Ming-hsien, professor at Taipei's Tamkang University.

"And by that time, the United States, Japan, and Taiwan will need to overhaul their military strategies."

A carrier group would potentially double the military threat posed to Taiwan by China by allowing the Chinese to approach from directions other than across the Strait, he said.

Two weeks ago Taiwan's defense ministry said in its annual report that China had continued its military build-up against the island despite warming ties, tipping the military balance in the Taiwan Strait with more than 1,300 ballistic and cruise missiles targeting the island.

Ties between China and Taiwan have improved significantly since the China-friendly politician Ma Ying-jeou became the island's president last year, vowing to adopt a non-confrontational policy towards the mainland.

But China still regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting to be reunified by force if necessary, although the island has governed itself since 1949 when a civil war ended.

The United States has repeatedly urged China to be more transparent about its rapid military buildup, warning of a shifting balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region that could cause misunderstanding.

***

Earlier this year, Chinese defense minister Liang Guanglie confirmed Beijing's plan to build a new generation of large destroyers and aircraft carrier. From the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea, Chinese shipyards are running flat out. According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, "By 2010 China's submarine force will be nearly double the size of the U.S., and the entire Chinese naval fleet is projected to surpass the size of the U.S. fleet by 2015."

Strategically, China's leaders have long been saying that the Indian Ocean is not India's Ocean. Beijing's new "Pearl Necklace Strategy" is designed to put Chinese naval bases along the shores of the Indian Ocean, and the maritime routes to Malacca: Marao in the Maldives, Coco Island in Burma, Chittagong in Bangladesh and Gwadar in Pakistan. China also is creating coastal bases in Africa, now widely open to Chinese investment.

Beijing sees the Pacific to be the next major strategic contending field in coming decades. Here, China foresees two rivals: Japan and the United States. Beijing has already tested Tokyo's readiness by repeated submarine incursions. PLAN vessels also are confronting U.S. Navy ships in the Pacific. The Chinese ships jostled with a U.S. Navy surveillance ship in the recent South China Sea confrontation sends a strong signal to countries in the region that they may no longer be able to depend on the U.S. in a conflict with China in the Pacific theater.

***

China has moved its aircraft carrier, the Shi Lang, into dry dock, apparently to install engines and other heavy equipment. A year ago, the Russian aircraft carrier Varyag was renamed the Shi Lang (after the Chinese general who took possession of Taiwan in 1681, the first time China ever paid any attention to the island) and given the pennant number 83. The Chinese have been refurbishing the Varyag, one of the Kuznetsov class that Russia began building in the 1980s, for five years now. It is expected to be ready for sea trials by the end of the year. Maybe. No one is sure exactly what plans the Chinese have for the Shi Lang, although work has been going on for years, and it's believed that the carrier will eventually be used to train the first generation of Chinese carrier aviators and sailors. The Varyag has been tied up in a Chinese shipyard at Dailan since 2002.

While the ship is under guard, it can be seen from a nearby highway. From that vantage point, local military and naval buffs have noted that some kind of work is being done on the ship. The only visible signs of this work are a new paint job (in the gray shade used by the Chinese navy) and ongoing work on the superstructure (particularly the tall island on the flight deck.)

Many workers can be seen on the ship, and material is seen going into (new stuff) and out of (old stuff) the ship. Shipyard workers report ever tighter security on the carriers, and stern instructions to workers to not report details of what is happening on the carriers.

Originally the Kuznetsovs were to be 90,000 ton, nuclear powered ships, similar to American carriers (complete with steam catapults). Instead, because of the high cost, and the complexity of modern (American style) carriers, the Russians were forced to scale back their plans, and ended up with the 65,000 ton (full load ) ships that lacked steam catapults, and used a ski jump type flight deck instead. Nuclear power was dropped, but the Kuznetsov class was still a formidable design. The thousand foot long carrier normally carries a dozen navalized Su-27s (called Su-33s), 14 Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopters, two electronic warfare helicopters and two search and rescue helicopters. But the ship can carry up to 36 Su-33s and sixteen helicopters. The ship carries 2,500 tons of aviation fuel, allowing it to generate 500-1,000 aircraft and helicopter sorties. Crew size is 2,500 (or 3,000 with a full aircraft load.) Only two ships of this class exist; the original Kuznetsov, which is in Russian service, and the Varyag. Currently, the Kuznetsov is operating in the Mediterranean.

The Chinese have been in touch with Russian naval construction firms, and may have purchased plans and technology for equipment installed in the Kuznetsov. Some Chinese leaders have quipped about having a carrier by 2010 (this would have to be a refurbished Varyag). Even that would be an ambitious schedule, and the Chinese have been burned before when they tried to build new military technology in a hurry.

Late last year, China announced that its first class of carrier aviators had begun training at the Dalian Naval Academy. The naval officers will undergo a four year course of instruction to turn them into fighter pilots capable of operating off a carrier. China already has an airfield, in the shape of a carrier deck, built at an inland facility. The Russians have warned China that it may take them a decade or more to develop the knowledge and skills needed to efficiently run an aircraft carrier. The Chinese are game, and are slogging forward.
_________________

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