China First Carrier heads into Japan dispute.

[DigTw0Grav3s]

Everything I've seen points to navalized Sukhois for the PLAN's new carrier. Terribly heavy plane for the kind of distances they'll be concerning themselves with. I would think they'd be better off with a bunch of MiGs.. but what do I know?

[Webstral]

Originally Posted by DigTw0Grav3s

Everything I've seen points to navalized Sukhois for the PLAN's new carrier. Terribly heavy plane for the kind of distances they'll be concerning themselves with. I would think they'd be better off with a bunch of MiGs.. but what do I know?

It's hard to say what the PLAN is thinking about for their carrier fleet. The fleet carrier niche already has a robust and mature player. If I were a senior staffer in PLAN, I'd point out that toe-to-toe fighting with the Americans isn't going to get good results until the PLAN grows and matures a bit more. In the interim, the PLAN naval air doctrine has to reflect a modus operendi distinctly different from the American naval air doctrine. I don't know enough about the technical details of naval aviation to make recommendations to PLAN. I do know that we might be able to glean something of their concept of use from the composition of the air wing they put aboard their carriers.

[Targan]

From what I've read, China's new carrier doesn't currently have any fighters assigned to it. China's fixed wing naval aviation is still very much in a training and evaluation phase.

[Legbreaker]

Who knows, maybe they'll use it to transport helicopters and vehicles until their fixed wing elements get up to speed? A little like the Australians did with HMAS Sydney during the 1960's.
At least that way the naval crew can get a bit of hands on practise with at least part of their craft...

[LAW0306]

I would worry about OHIO Class SSGN's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_class_submarine

[Targan]

Originally Posted by LAW0306

I would worry about OHIO Class SSGN's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_class_submarine

Absolutely. IMHO the Ohio SSGN conversions are proof positive that the US military is very capable of modifying doctrine and platforms to suit changing geo-political circumstances.

[HorseSoldier]

Originally Posted by Webstral

It's hard to say what the PLAN is thinking about for their carrier fleet. The fleet carrier niche already has a robust and mature player. If I were a senior staffer in PLAN, I'd point out that toe-to-toe fighting with the Americans isn't going to get good results until the PLAN grows and matures a bit more. In the interim, the PLAN naval air doctrine has to reflect a modus operendi distinctly different from the American naval air doctrine. I don't know enough about the technical details of naval aviation to make recommendations to PLAN. I do know that we might be able to glean something of their concept of use from the composition of the air wing they put aboard their carriers.

India and China are developing as regional powers that are concerned about each other, relatively unrelated to China/US issues. Both are developing stronger fleets in general, and carrier capabilities as well.

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by HorseSoldier

India and China are developing as regional powers that are concerned about each other, relatively unrelated to China/US issues. Both are developing stronger fleets in general, and carrier capabilities as well.

I think one should bear in mind that China has interest in many overseas location - for instance Africa. With the number of people based abroad and the major investments made I do not think it far fetched that China would want the capacity to be able to make air strikes and land limited forces to evacuate personel etc.

And as Horsesoldier said - China has to compete with India,Vietnam and Japan among others.

Taking on the US seems a like a bad idea for the Chinese leadership.

[Sith]

At this point there is no air wing assigned to the Chinese carrier. There are a only few planes there to train the crew on deck operations.

You have to remember that the US has about 70 years of carrier operations experience and India has about 40 or 50. The Chinese are only now starting to get their toes wet with this kind of thing. Their carrier looks inpressive right now, but that's about all it is.