Here's an interesting Report (even if I don't know how reliable) ... anyway it sounds quite reasonable.
original link:
... but Bltizo also already posted it in the carrier tread.
That's a good airwing and certainly a powerful force
I hope China does make good use of the Liaoning and deploy with full compliment of aircraft once everything is certified and ready they will learn so much
Eventually I would like to see the Chinese carrier strike group work with a Chinese amphibious ready group or expeditionary group to provide air cover for the a landing excercise where fighter jets go in first followed up by the amphibious invasion force
With the 3 x LPD and numerous LST it would make a good landing force but I don't think it would make a fully fledged amphibious assault group because of the obviously lack of LHA/LHD
For a ARG you need 3 components a ground force, a aviation force and a logistics force built around a LHA, LPD and a LSD
A USN MEU typically consists of a Wasp Class LHA, San Antonio Class LPD and a Whidbay/Harper ferry class LSD
Together they carry the equipment for a around 2,000 marines for air, sea and ground mobility
The aviation combat element alone consists of
12 x V-22 Ospreys
4 x CH-53E
3 x Hueys
4 x AH-1Z
And 6 x Harriers plus numerous UAV
Plus two KC-130J provide the aerial refuelling from land bases
As of now China has 3 x LPD and lots of Type 720 LST which could carry the ground and logistics force but there is no flat top to carry the aviation element so they are about 2/3 of the way there
Certainly the shore to ship connectors are there but what PLAN needs is a large LSD and a LHA/LHD to fully complete a ARG
On the other hand the Chinese CSG is well more advanced and the carrier air wing is also looking very promising
Let's hope the marine amphibious units also develop rapidly and surely