PLAN Carrier Strike Group and Airwing

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India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) announced external link [PDF] the successful test launch of a Nirbhay long-range cruise missile, though deviations from its intended trajectory were observed along its flight. This had already been the case external link during the 1st test flight back in March.

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So, is China building a 2nd aircraft carrier, or a big external link Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) ship? Chinese forums and blogs are buzzing external link about a picture external link of what could be a ski jump module in the making, in a hangar behind the Liaoning.

Russia’s 6th-gen fighter aircraft will likely be unmanned external link.

The video below explains the unique attributes of the Sukhoi T-50 – Russia’s 5th-gen fighter jet prototype – whose maneuverability will be showcased external link at the MAKS-2013 air show starting tomorrow near Moscow:

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latenlazy said:

Refitting and building a ship from scratch puts different operational strains on project management. Knowing the generally cautious approach to project management in China, I wouldn't be surprised if they built a mock-up just in case.

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hardware said:

China unlike the US has no experience of building CV,therefore,you are right they decided to build a mock up,according to kanwa,several Ukrainian naval engineer were in shanghai ship yard to assist the construction.

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rhino123 said:

When China built their first destroyer, do they do a mock up? And Carrier to China is not really that new, China had been studying carrier for decades, and although Liaoning is a refitted carrier, but if one follow the Liaoning history, one would know that when China recieve that ship it was basically just an empty shell, and so when China refit it, it was basically doing everything almost from scratch. I think China would already have enough experiences with it.

As to suggestion that Ukrainian naval engineer are in Shanghai shipyard to help with the construction, then it would tell you more that mockup is impossible. Why the hell would China require help from other nation's engineer to build a mock up? Seriously, a little common sense here.

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hardware said:

　【环球网综合报道】据日本共同社8月26日报道，《简氏防务周刊》8月早些时候援引卫星图片称，中国显然已开始在上海建造首艘本土航母。但汉和称，这份杂志很有可能是误将两栖攻击舰视为航母了。

　　汉和称，中国正在上海建造首艘能够搭载多艘气垫船和直升机的两栖攻击舰。这艘攻击舰的满载排水量为3.5万吨，中国可能最早于2015年将此舰编入现役，以提升该国海军的登陆作战能力。

　　报道称，中国目前已有三艘2万吨级的071型两栖战舰，眼下正在建造第四艘。但该国尚未拥有上述规模的能够搭载众多直升机和登陆艇的大型舰船。预计这艘两栖攻击舰将搭载四艘气垫船——中国已向乌克兰购买了其中一艘气垫船——和20架直升机。

according to kanwa, China is building a new 35000 ton LHD,and likely enter service around 2015

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Jeff Head said:

Personally, I do not buy into the 1/3 size or whatever demo modules. They can build and analyze modules on the computer well enough to avoid the cost and time needed to build such models IMHO for it getting them to a decision point.

Given their ability to build the LPDs and completely refit the carrier, I think there is little doubt that their major naval shipyards are up to the task.

So then, why another STOBAR?

My opinion is that for all of the following reasons, they will build an improved Liaoning type carrier as their first indigenous carrier.

1) The Liaoning is what they know...and they know it well. It is the least risk and the least cost to get their own carrier built.

2) The cost of ownership of both the Liaoning and this new carrier are markedly less if they both operate similarly and use the same equipment. Training, maintenance, operations, all will benefit from the same logistical and policy/operations trains.

3) This allows them to continue training pilots, aircrews, deck chiefs, and continue operating both carriers with the J-15 as is, without having to redesign the front landing gear to withstand a cat launch.

4) It also gives them the ability to improve on the Liaoning as a STOBAR. Bigger hanger, smaller more efficient Island, etc.

5) Finally, it gives them an excellent opportunity to design Liaoning II with the ability to install cats at the waste position later if they so desire, so they can begin getting into the catapult operations in the future. In this way they could use the 2nd carrier (with all of the above mentioned benefits) as a stepping stone to CATOBAR too. So they design provisions for the cats into the deck and under structure of the new carrier so that later, those cats can be installed and operated when they deem it right.

Anyhow, for all of those reasons I believe such a step would be beneficial, logical, the least costly and the least risk .

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Jeff Head said:

Uh...what guessing game?

We have been discussing the 1st picture in detail for some time so there's really nothing new there.

And the 2nd picture?

That shows an old picture of the Liaoning before it was ever completed...so probably two years old, with some kind of vessel (probably a tanker or something) building next to it.

I don't understand the point.

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joshuatree said:

If it will be an improved Liaoning, what improvements do folks think it will be? Smaller island, larger hanger have been mentioned. What about displacement? 70,000 tons? 80,000? I would include larger elevators. How about electric propulsion pods? Gas turbine?

Or any chance the modules we are seeing are lessons learned from Liaoning to build a LHA/LHD?

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delft said:

Gas turbine electric: necessary to power cats ( even if cats are not yet fitted ), saves weight and volume, better acceleration, smaller engine room crew.
I would be very surprised to see steam or diesel power. Flattops should use gas turbines or nuclear power and integrated power systems. I wonder how small nuclear powered ships can be when Thorium reactors become available.

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According to French weekly Challenges citing a French MoD source, France is about to deploy its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Syrian coasts. The aircraft carrier and its battle group will join several US Navy vessels already deployed in the area: USS Gravely, USS Barry, USS Mahan and USS Ramage.

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