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

Data Figure: China is modified Kuznetsov aircraft carrier data for: the network has been circulating on the spray painting of the Navy F -15 fighter

Japan “Foreign Scholars” website article on May 5 issue: the lack of Chinese fighter aircraft

Paal, as recently pointed out in recent weeks, the Chinese navy aircraft carrier to deploy the first step toward great pace, which highlights the country’s military power status to the world’s fast forward. 12 years ago, China’s purchase of a dilapidated Soviet aircraft carrier, “Kuznetsov” was, is said to ship 60,000 tons of aircraft carrier will begin sea trials this summer. “Kuznetsov” was the first carrier-based aircraft is almost ready. The end of April, the first F -15 fighter aircraft joined the Navy.

a seaworthy aircraft carrier, along with naval aircraft with a capacity to act, constitute the Chinese navy’s aircraft carrier force in the development of the backbone. But these alone is not enough to form a useful aircraft carrier force. Putting aside a modern aircraft carrier of the human, the huge deployment and logistical needs, as well as some additional hardware can not meet the needs of China’s.

to implement a truly long-distance carrier operations, the PLA also need to develop, manufacture and delivery for the carrier’s air command and control aircraft, air refueling and electronic warfare aircraft. Without these, “Kuznetsov” was -15 F and its training facilities at most equal to, not much practical use.

ask the Russians it. “Kuznetsov” was the sister ship “Admiral Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier has been in use since the action or training less than 10 times the number of sailing and sail no more than every few months. It had never been involved in combat. In contrast, the U.S. Navy’s 11 super-carrier service in their 50-year period one-third of the time at sea, and gone through conventional combat.

“Admiral Kuznetsov” was there a variety of problems. Its air force is not very practical. More than a dozen Su-33 fighters plus one of the few equipped with radar and sonar devices helicopter, so important in the face of the enemy can not be lasting when the air combat capability.

and the United States and France’s only aircraft carrier — — is well-equipped, including two of its air force fighters, as well as fixed-wing of the E-2 airborne early warning aircraft. U.S. Navy also has to suppress enemy air defenses and specifically with the EA-6B “Prowler” or the EA-18G “Growler” electronic warfare aircraft.

like the United States and France, due to lack of diversification, as the air force, in the near future, “Kuznetsov” was also only as “Admiral Kuznetsov” was like.

People’s Liberation Army has been aware of these limitations, and efforts to resolve these issues. China has purchased Russian Ka-31 early warning helicopters, and are experimenting with radar straight-8 helicopter.

but the “Kuznetsov” number and other future Chinese aircraft carrier, in mid-air refueling and electronic warfare, there is still a significant gap. China has been the dawn of aviation aircraft in close proximity, but the mature Chinese aircraft carrier aviation true dawn to wait for many years. (Author David Axe)