chinese nuclear aircraft carrier?

[tommy_sa21]

hey everyone, i was wondering does anyone have any information on china's aircraft carrier? i remembered reading somewhere on the www thats china now have a nuclear aircraft carrier. can anyone comfirm this? and are there pictures of this carrier.

 

[Deltared075]

China don't have operational aircraft carrier!

 

[gf0012-aust]

hey everyone, i was wondering does anyone have any information on china's aircraft carrier? i remembered reading somewhere on the www thats china now have a nuclear aircraft carrier. can anyone comfirm this? and are there pictures of this carrier.

China has 2 x ex Russian Air Craft Carriers and the ex HMAS Melbourne Light Fleet Carrier. All are used for evaluation purposes and none are able to be used under their own power.

The ex-Russian Varyag has recently been refitted out on it's island and the assumption is that they are using it as a mule for sub system development.

China does however qualify the PLAN fleet air arm pilots on a dry land air craft carrier. ie they have a landing strip that is designed as an aircraft carrier deck in both shape and length.

The likelihood of them going to an aircraft carrier diminished when they changed fleet admirals. the prev one was pro aircraft carriers - hence the triple purchase, the new fleet admiral is an ex-submariner - and if you notice all vessel development has been accelerated on subs since he took the chair.

 

[Capt. Picard]

Didn't the Chinese scrap the Melbourne after they got it, for scrap metal?

 

[gf0012-aust]

Didn't the Chinese scrap the Melbourne after they got it, for scrap metal?

that was their stated intent, but the hull is still intact. apparently they've been looking at it for bunkerage assessments.

the whole carrier focus has shifted away though back to subs. the only thing I can think of as to why they are still outfitting varyags island and still assessing Melbourne is to look at hybrid LHA's. They have built/building 4 new large amphibs in the last 12 months, so the feeling is that Melbourne may act as a training mule. (even though its engineless it can be used as a classroom)

 

[Superbug]

......They have built/building 4 new large amphibs in the last 12 months, so the feeling is that Melbourne may act as a training mule. (even though its engineless it can be used as a classroom)

Can you share with me little further information on these vessles? Thanks.

 

[gf0012-aust]

Can you share with me little further information on these vessles? Thanks.

actually there's not a lot of info coming out except for the fact that the vessels are under construction and that they conform to an amphib type role.

 

[Musashi_kenshin]

The likelihood of them going to an aircraft carrier diminished when they changed fleet admirals. the prev one was pro aircraft carriers - hence the triple purchase, the new fleet admiral is an ex-submariner - and if you notice all vessel development has been accelerated on subs since he took the chair.

gf is right. The chances of China even desiring to get a working carrier at the moment are low. There is a strong group in their Armed Forces which regard carriers as more of a liability rather than an asset, due to the advances in submarine and missile technology.

China may build carriers but not in the immediate future. All they're doing at the moment is looking into the technology.

 

[wp2000]

Nuclear ?? no way.

But just to let you guys know that in 6+ months time, the fate of Vayag will be revealed. This is the hotest topic among military forums inside China.

I want to wait and see.

 

[gf0012-aust]

Nuclear ?? no way.

But just to let you guys know that in 6+ months time, the fate of Vayag will be revealed. This is the hotest topic among military forums inside China.

I want to wait and see.

I doubt it. I've seen images of it that are less than 30 days old and she's in no condition for anything. She's not even remotely ready for trials let alone deployment. I'd be guessing that if they started today on full rotating shifts, they'd still be over 12months out from re-launch. The superstructure is an absolute mess.

 

[wp2000]

The very latest rumor is, the repair work will start in August. It will take up to 2 years to finish. But it will only be a training ship, at least that's what PLAN will 'CALL' it.

 

[gf0012-aust]

The very latest rumor is, the repair work will start in August. It will take up to 2 years to finish. But it will only be a training ship, at least that's what PLAN will 'CALL' it.

superficially I'd be in stronger agreement with that timeframe. IMO it's got at least 2yrs of refurb, 6-9months for trials and then a further 6months to go into fleet work up.

I'd be betting on 3yrs for fleet work - assuming that there is no slippage.

 

[wp2000]

And actually, Vayag is not the focus of the rumor. The real news is that China will start to build a carrier while repairing Vayag. But we will only see something before the Olympics. Whereas Vayag will be back into dock in August, so in not too distant future we will see whether those guys are lying or not.

In fact, those guys have been correct for the last 4 years. Otherwise I wouldn't bother to even talk about it.

 

[Pendekar]

Any indications on type of airwings?

 

[wp2000]

Not too much talk about the airwings, but from the several most reliable mouths, it's Su33.

To me, any plane is doubtful, because I have not heard any news on china getting planes for aircraft carrier. So I don't want to bet on any thing.

 

[gf0012-aust]

And actually, Vayag is not the focus of the rumor. The real news is that China will start to build a carrier while repairing Vayag. But we will only see something before the Olympics. Whereas Vayag will be back into dock in August, so in not too distant future we will see whether those guys are lying or not.

In fact, those guys have been correct for the last 4 years. Otherwise I wouldn't bother to even talk about it.

the other significant issue re varyag is that China was contractually bound to the Russians not to convert it into an active carrier. that raises a whole pile of issues if varyag has been modified or undergone a refurb. The engines are shot, and the only people with the technical capability that can fix or supply engines for the varyag are the Russians. To replace the engines with say MTU's would be a 12-18month exercise in its own right - and cost approx 30m Euro (using Gorshkov as the equivalent example).

None of the CV's in China are seaworthy and its not a trivial exercise to SLEP and refurb them.

There are very few yards that are able to undertake CV sized work - certainly none that are undetectable. So unless China is looking at medium sized carriers nothing has started yet.

Looking at the build philosophy, I also cannot see China doing a single build, for a number of reasons, she would need concurrent construction of at least 3 and probably 4 vessels. Otherwise it doesn't make tactical sense. You don't build lead ships in isolation (certainly no one who builds major tonnage vessels in the last 20 years would do flag builds only)

 

[wp2000]

the other significant issue re varyag is that China was contractually bound to the Russians not to convert it into an active carrier. ....

Yes. Some chinese posters said china would be regarded as a lier cause it's the then president Mr. Jiang promised to Turkey that Vayag would be a Casino. Others said, WTH, he's retired.

Also, it's said that only some auxilary power will be installed. Too much work to restore Vayag into a full active carrier, and biggest disadvantage is, AWCS plane can't take off from it.

So, I guess PLAN will make Vayag afloat on the sea to train some fighter plane pilots while building the real carrier.

 

[kashifshahzad]

:coffee I think no one is gonna sell an air craft carrier to China caz they will be in a lot of trouble with that:coffee

 

[Number1azn365]

^ Not to sure about that, but I think it was either Italy or maybe Spain that offered China a small carrier, but China was more interested in the blue prints then the carrier itself.. Please dont quote me on this, but im sure it was one of the two countries.

 

[wp2000]

Well, it seems that China actually is not interested in small carriers, and on this planet only USA, France and Russia got medium/large ones. So it's not too hard to figure out that China has to build it by herself.

Anyway, August is not too far away. We'll see whether those rumors will become truth.

And in fact there should be number of things to check in 2005-2006, because this Vayag and aircraft carrier thing is part of a series of rumors:

* extra 052C ships, then 052D. May see photos at the end of this year or early next year. 2 ship yards will be involved in building the new 052s.

* The 10K-20K ton LPD, 2 will be constructed this year.

* 054A with VLS, 2 shipyards got orders already.

So, chinese mil fans are waiting to see photo evidence of these things, cause they will be built in big cities.

As of other rumors, I don't want to say cause there's no chance you can see evidence.