The Chinese officially have a Boat...

[Uncle Fester]

http://www.navytimes.com/mobile/news/2012/09/ap-china-says-aircraft-carrier-in-service-092512

The PLAN commissioned the Liaoning earlier today. Vanity project or game-changer?

For all the Deep Thinkers opening about how carriers are outdated, there sure are a lot of countries putting a lot of money into them...

 

[BusyBee604]

The PLAN commissioned the Liaoning earlier today. Vanity project or game-changer?

For all the Deep Thinkers opening about how carriers are outdated, there sure are a lot of countries putting a lot of money into them...

Any interest here in a 'career-enhancing' foreign exchange gig with the Chinese Navy on their first carrier? How about Handler or Shooter (fluency in Mandarin a plus)...?

Can you say "Chinese fire drill" for the first 20-25 years?
BzB

 

[Mumbles]

It would make a nice target for a couple of well placed Mk-48 ADCAPS.

 

[Jim123]

I think Chinese naval air is going to use it to cut their teeth, in an "institutional" sense of the phrase, learning how to operate aircraft off ships- how to launch/recover/arm/maintain the aircraft, doctrine, maintain the ship, refuel/resupply the ship, etc...

After several years of the above, I think they will have figured out how many carriers they want to have. And then they will more or less copy this ship and build that many.

As for my opinion on possible timelines,

We commissioned Langley in 1922, we commissioned Lexington and Saratoga in 1927, and by the mid 1930s we had a force to be reckoned with.​

Japan commissioned Akgagi in 1927, Kaga in 1928...​

The UK commissioned Argus in 1918, Hermes in 1924, Ark Royal in 1930 (technically "re-commissioned")...​

 

[helolumpy]

This just in, a squadron reported it's first crunch today....

 

[scoolbubba]

When do the Japanese get their obligatory Self Defense Power Projection flattop aircraft carrying non offensive ship?

 

[CAMike]

Let's hope the Chinese SWO's are better ship handlers than their aviator counterparts. I'll worry when we have to wait for our turn in the SoCal Unrep lanes.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...le-chinese-carrier-borne-aewc-testbed-374858/

 

[Brett327]

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...le-chinese-carrier-borne-aewc-testbed-374858/

I wonder where they got the idea for that?

 

[jmcquate]

I wonder where they got the idea for that?

Master

 

[scoolbubba]

Did the frenchies sell them a E-2C?

 

[xj220]

Let's hope the Chinese SWO's are better ship handlers than their aviator counterparts. I'll worry when we have to wait for our turn in the SoCal Unrep lanes.

I had never seen this footage before, definitely makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Is there anymore, including the actual collision?

 

[Brett327]

Did the frenchies sell them a E-2C?

Maybe it was the Mexicans.

 

[hlg6016]

When do the Japanese get their obligatory Self Defense Power Projection flattop aircraft carrying non offensive ship?

Just curious, Don't the Japanes already have an LPH type ship?

 

[Uncle Fester]

Pretty good article in Foreign Policy summarizing the challenges the PLAN faces. Executive summary: it was a hell of a lot of work just getting this thing underway, and now the hard part starts. They've got to demonstrate some proficiency and tactical acumen with their new boat, otherwise it's a waste of money - i.e., no one's scared of a Boat that just makes circles offshore every once in a while.