Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft to take off from aircraft carriers.

China already has a Soviet-era “Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier, the carrier purchased from Ukraine in 1997, and in 2002, calling at Dalian port. Since then, the “Kuznetsov” aircraft modification work has been in full swing.

“Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier after the completion of modernizing the Chinese in fact have an own aircraft carrier. Russia’s example shows that the carrier either as a training ship can also be used as a fighting ship. Therefore, it seems unlikely that China will be a long time the only aircraft carrier ship for training. Moreover, China has built one in Wuhan, “Kuznetsov” was land-based analog deck. Ground-based simulations using the deck of the cost of training pilots, than the “Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier is more expensive. The “Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier-based aircraft on the Russian troops “Admiral Kuznetsov” (Kuznetsov) aircraft similar to the Air Force, carrying about 20 aircraft, 15 helicopters and four trainers.

“Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier most likely to be sent to the South China Sea Fleet, patrolling the South China Sea. China’s best 052B/C and the most modern destroyer Type 054A frigate, are deployed in the South China Sea Fleet, and has built nuclear submarine base on Hainan Island, which highlights the strategic importance of the South China Sea region. However, Vietnam Order of 6 “Kilo” class submarines will pose a threat to the South China Sea, but the threat of air forces by increasing the number of anti-submarine helicopters to respond.

the “Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier in the preparation and weapons, some military experts believe that China, in May 2010 appeared under the carrier-based F -15 fighter prototype PLA Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, F -15 fighter photo shows the aircraft landing gear was reinforced. 601 Air Force Institute of China for the Chinese navy has developed the first carrier-based fighter. However, in order to save development costs, China seems to have decided only by studying purchased from Ukraine in 2001, T-10K-3 aircraft prototype, to imitate the Russian Su-33 fighter. And Su-33 fighter similar to F -15 fighter has a canard and a short wing, landing with the flight deck to avoid exposure. F -15 fighter and the F-11B aircraft seems to have the same radar, the same cockpit layout and the same WS-10 jet engine.

the same with the F-11B aircraft, F -15 fighter can launch PL-8, PL-12 air to air missiles and YJ-83K anti-ship missiles. F -15 fighter should F/A-18C with US-made fighter jets have the same performance. August 31, 2009, with Chinese-made F-WS-10 engine made its first flight prototype -15.

carrier-based early warning aircraft, the United States and Russia are not the same model. Russian Ka-31 aircraft speed of 220 km, can fly 3,500 km, two and a half hours without refueling, the radar rotating once every 10 seconds, covering the movement of aircraft within 150 kilometers and 520 kilometers inside the vessel. However, US-made E-2 AWACS can detect up to 600 kilometers of enemy aircraft or ships. Unless China can be developed and a US-made E-2 AWACS electronic aircraft carrier-based rival, otherwise, the Chinese aircraft carrier they would be “blind-ship.”

an article that China aims to build their own aircraft carriers. Published by the Central Party School, “Study Times” on one of the authors emphasized that only the United States and Russia have the technology and capacity to build aircraft carriers. Relatively easy to build a light aircraft carrier, but they can only use the British “Harrier” vertical takeoff and landing aircraft or helicopters. So, although it can not meet the performance requirements of the giant aircraft carrier, but a 4-6 million tons of medium-sized aircraft carrier for China may be a good compromise choice, although its construction difficult, but within the capacity in China. Although China’s naval industry has made progress, but China can not build one in the near future with sophisticated capabilities of the aircraft carrier. In March 2007, the Central Committee members, said Zhang Yunchuan, China is considering the construction of aircraft carriers, but stressed that “the construction of aircraft carrier is a slow process, in this process needs to overcome many difficulties.”

construction and development of aircraft carriers aircraft carrier requires wind tunnel, computer-aided design, special materials, electronic equipment and especially applicable technologies. China has Asia’s most advanced wind tunnel facilities, the equipment used to test the J-10 fighter jets and aerial reconnaissance, which is essential for the development of carrier-based aircraft equipment. Computer-aided design is a crucial point – because it runs through a computer simulation of aircraft capabilities, the United States only a year and a half creating a “Nimitz” class carriers need 10,000 page design; the Soviet Union, but with a three-time hand-painted ship “Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier design drawings. China should learn from the Americans, the use of computer-aided design. In 2010, Xinhua News Agency announced the successful development of high performance comparable to the U.S. super-computer, which can be given to the Chinese computer-aided design capability to carry out complex operations, such as the construction of aircraft carriers.

For China, construction of aircraft carriers is a huge strategic decision. If China’s policy-making through a strong industry works with the support of the technical efforts for several years, and organized network of sub-contractors to provide parts to the carrier, there may be successful. This process is costly, but for the aviation sector to create new businesses and jobs. Chinese military experts have quoted an American point of view, said: “In the future, aircraft may be vulnerable to attack, and may damage the aircraft carrier, but if the Chinese give up the construction of aircraft carriers, it will not have access to maritime dominance.”