Chinese Super-Carrier Under Construction

[Atheist-Lite]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13692558

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13693495

China aircraft carrier confirmed by general

The head of China's General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has confirmed that China's first aircraft carrier is under construction.

Gen Chen Bingde refused to say when the carrier - a remodelled Soviet-era vessel, the Varyag - would be ready.

A member of his staff said the carrier would pose no threat to other nations.

The 300m (990ft) carrier, which is being built in the north-east port of Dalian, has been one of China's worst-kept secrets, analysts say.

Gen Chen made his comments to the Chinese-language Hong Kong Commercial Daily newspaper.

(continued)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

They will have quite a bit of work to do after they launch her. A flight deck is an important part of a CAG (Carrier Air Group), but it's just part. One minor example: The moving and positioning of planes on a USN CG is control by a bunch of guys who use a plastic model of the flight deck and bits and bobs (Nuts, washers, paper clips, that kind of thing) to indicated the status of the planes. They've tried using computers, but the mechanical brains couldn't keep up with the process. It took us decades to get that system down to a science, and it's very carefully taught and passed on to new people so we won't lose it. China will have to go through a similar learning process for that and everything else we've learned in 90 years of carrier operations.

[Atheist-Lite]

They will have quite a bit of work to do after they launch her. A flight deck is an important part of a CAG (Carrier Air Group), but it's just part. One minor example: The moving and positioning of planes on a USN CG is control by a bunch of guys who use a plastic model of the flight deck and bits and bobs (Nuts, washers, paper clips, that kind of thing) to indicated the status of the planes. They've tried using computers, but the mechanical brains couldn't keep up with the process. It took us decades to get that system down to a science, and it's very carefully taught and passed on to new people so we won't lose it. China will have to go through a similar learning process for that and everything else we've learned in 90 years of carrier operations.

I think their expectation is the US will attempt to outcompete them on this and go bankrupt? It only cost $20 million from the Ukraine but to a future Republican adminstration it'll look like the genuine article requiring a multi-billion dollar investment in the most expensive piece of military kit, as an answer.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

They will have quite a bit of work to do after they launch her. A flight deck is an important part of a CAG (Carrier Air Group), but it's just part. One minor example: The moving and positioning of planes on a USN CG is control by a bunch of guys who use a plastic model of the flight deck and bits and bobs (Nuts, washers, paper clips, that kind of thing) to indicated the status of the planes. They've tried using computers, but the mechanical brains couldn't keep up with the process. It took us decades to get that system down to a science, and it's very carefully taught and passed on to new people so we won't lose it. China will have to go through a similar learning process for that and everything else we've learned in 90 years of carrier operations.

I think their expectation is the US will attempt to outcompete them on this and go bankrupt? It only cost $20 million from the Ukraine but to a future Republican adminstration it'll look like the genuine article requiring a multi-billion dollar investment in the most expensive piece of military kit, as an answer.

We have a dozen or so carriers, all fully functional and fully trained, with full complement of air groups and escort and support ships already trained. China has fifty years or so of catch-up before they're competitive with us. There's no race at all yet.

I think this is simply a prestige thing. They are no long content with a "frigate navy".