Chinese Carrier Plans Revealed

choi

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Strategy Page, Dec. 23, 2010.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htnavai/articles/20101223.aspx

Quote:

"Originally the Kuznetsovs were to be 90,000 ton, nuclear powered ships, similar to American carriers (complete with steam catapults). Instead, because of the high cost, and the complexity of modern (American style) carriers, the Russians were forced to scale back their plans, and ended up with the 65,000 ton (full load ) ships that lacked steam catapults, and used a ski jump type flight deck instead.

"The Russians have warned China that it may take them a decade or more to develop the knowledge and skills needed to efficiently run an aircraft carrier.

My comment:
(a) game (adj):
(b) Admiral Kuznetsov is the last carrier Soviet Union (and Russia) has laucnhed.
(i) List of aircraft carriers of Russia and the Soviet Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_carriers_of_Russia_and_the_Soviet_Union#By_commissioning_date
(ii) Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_aircraft_carrier_Admiral_Kuznetsov
(Table: launched 1985; commissioned 1991; fully operational 1995)

Observe the "ski jump type flight deck" which China's navy is copying--both in land and the carrier under construction.

(c) Whereas both Russia and China fail to evolve to steam-powered carrier catapult, US has JUST entered a new phase--EMALS. See next.

Latest News first
(i) Navy launches new catapult for aircraft carriers. Los Angeles Times, Dec. 22, 2010 (blog)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/12/navy-catapalt-general-atomics-.html

Check out the video clip.

The tests were conducted on Dec. 18 and 19, 2010.

This is the first time EMALS sends a fighter jet into the sky. The Aviation Week report in (iii) described unspecific tests but did not launch an airplane.

(ii) What are the advantages of EMALS over steam catapult?

Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). General Stomics, undated.
http://atg.ga.com/EM/defense/emals/index.php
("EMALS is a complete launch system designed to replace the existing steam catapult currently being used on aircraft carriers. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the first ship of the CVN-21 Future Aircraft Carrier Class, will use electromagnetic launch systems")

(iii) Bill Sweetman, Carrier Launch System Passes Initial Tests. Aviation Week, June 7, 2010.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=dti&id=news/dti/2010/06/01/DT_06_01_2010_p42-228803.xml

I brought this report to your attention at the time. Now the new era has dawned.
(e) General Atomics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics
(General Atomics (GA) was founded July 18, 1955 in San Diego, California as the General Atomic division of General Dynamics "for the purpose of harnessing the power of nuclear technologies for the benefit of mankind")


---------------------Separately
(1) 美国白宫公布胡锦涛访美具体日期. BBC Chinese, Dec. 23, 2010.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/world/2010/12/101223_hu_us_visit.shtml

My comment:
(a) So far, BBC has not had an ENGLISH report on this topic.
(b) Statement by the Press Secretary on the Visit of President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China. Office of Press Scretary, White House, Dec. 22, 2010.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/22/statement-press-secretary-visit-president-hu-jintao-peoples-republic-chi
(c) For the BBC Chinese report to emphasize "伙伴关系"--partnership in the press release--in the section heading is unfounded.
(d) 国事访问 state visit
正式访问 formal visit

(2) 韩空、陆军举行规模最大的冬季军演. VOA Chinese, Dec. 23, 2010.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20121223-KOREAS-TENSION-112367789.html
("在距离朝鲜边境只有30公里一处浓雾笼罩的山麓")

(3) Latest report first.
(a) 张楠, 记者手记：中朝边境行之四. VOA Chinese, Dec. 23, 2010.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20101223-Travel-Along-China-N-Korea-Border4-112371444.html

(b) 张楠, 记者手记：中朝边境行之三. VOA Chinese, Dec. 22, 2010.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20101222-Travel-Along-China-N-Korea-Border3-112305409.html

(c) 张楠, 记者手记：中朝边境行之二. VOA Chinese, Dec. 21, 2010.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20101221-Travel-Along-China-N-Korea-Border-2-112239664.html

(4) 美要朝收敛才能恢复六方会谈. VOA Chinese, Dec. 22, 2010.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20101222-Us-NORTH-KOREA-112306379.html

(5) 美国因巴基斯坦核协议重罚中国子公司. VOA Chinese, Dec. 22, 2010.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20101222-CHINA-US-FINE-112302529.html

Note: 庞贝捷漆油贸易公司 PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co. (PPG's wholly owned subsidiary)

(6) 新西兰空军公布不明飞行物文件. VOA Chinese, Dec. 22, 2010.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20101222-NEW-ZEALAND-UFOS-112301519.html

(7) 维基揭密：新西兰担忧中国带来不稳. VOA Chinese, Dec. 21, 2010.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/origination/20101221-WIKILEAKS-NEW-ZEALAND-WARY-CHINA-EMERGENCE-INTERVIEWEE-112241244.html

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