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Mooring trials scheduled for China’s first indigenous aircraft carrier
China intends to conduct mooring trials for its first domestically constructed aircraft carrier in September, says Hu Wenming, the general director of the carrier’s construction (via People’s Daily Online).
Dalian Shipbuilder had launched the aircraft carrier for sea trials in April. Known as the Type 001A, the carrier is derived from the Soviet-era Kuznetsov-class carrier Varyag, which China bought in an incomplete state in the late 1990s through a privately-owned Hong Kong-based business.
The Varyag was then completed and fitted in China. It was launched as the Liaoning, which the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) declared as “combat ready” in November 2016.
The Type 001A inherits the Liaoning’s short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) aircraft launch layout, but Chinese media sources claim that the Type 001A can carry additional aircraft.
Regarding the Type 001A, Hu Wenming told the People’s Daily Online that 412 entities, including state-owned corporations, private companies and research and development agencies, were involved in the development and production of the Type 001A.
Domestic inputs constitute 77.4% of the Type 001A content. In September 2016, satellite imagery (via IHS Jane’s) indicate that China is testing Shenyang J-15 carrier-borne fighters modified for catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) flight decks in anticipation of China’s third carrier, the Type 002.
Aircraft carrier development and production constitutes a major portion of Beijing’s plan of enhancing the PLAN for better addressing China’s regional naval threats and interests.
In the lead-up to inducting aircraft carriers, the PLAN has largely modernized its surface fleet with multi-mission frigates and destroyers, such as the Type 054A and Type 052B/C/D, respectively. The mainstay of the PLAN’s patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) force now comprises of Type 056 corvettes.
The PLAN has also expanded its amphibious deployment capabilities through the induction of Type 071 landing platform/docks (LPD) and Type 072 landing ship/dock (LSD). It has also built a modern land-based air arm comprising of various fixed-wing fighter aircraft as well as ASW and surveillance aircraft.
In parallel with aircraft carriers, the PLAN surface fleet will see the addition of large anti-air warfare (AAW)-capable multi-mission destroyers, such as the 10,000-ton Type 055.
4 Comments
by shuang chiang
China is rising peacefully, why Japan, USA, Australia + some other countries are so jealous. Every country should mind their own business and put their country in order. War only bring disaster. Millions died in Iraq, Libya and Syria. What USA did is not right. Did they
Find weapon of mass destruction?
by Steve
A new superpower awakens…
by ali amanat
You are right, china need more such weapon systems to reached long arch.
America is losing in afghanistan but want to stay there by giving a special role to INDIA to WEAPONIZED Terrorist grouups in afghanistan and keep on attacking and engaging pak army, american strategic alliance with india is to contain china.
by Steve
China will need steam or new EMALS (electromagnetic aircraft launch system) catapults for CATOBAR (catapult assisted takeoff but arrested landing), for launching heavier aircraft, like American carriers do. America has made noises about helping India with that technology. It obviously increases the reach of the carrier aircraft for missions. STOBAR with its ski jump type launch is good but only as an interim step. Indian carriers are also STOBAR at the moment. Oddly enough even the first new British Queen Elizabeth class carrier at ~70,000 tons will also will have STOVL (shirt take off vertical landing) configuration for F-35C. The next carrier the HMS Prince of Wales will have CATOBAR, but is going to be expensive! China will need a next generation of carriers as this design is relatively dated. We will be pleased to see Chinese carriers on good will visits in the Indian Ocean.