Prospects for the development of the aircraft carrier fleet of the PLA Navy

The aircraft carrier Liaoning near Hong Kong, 2017. Photo by Wikimedia Commons

China is about to build a large and powerful aircraft carrier fleet capable of defending the country's maritime borders and projecting power into remote regions. It is assumed that the optimal appearance and desired capabilities of such forces will be obtained in the thirties. In the meantime, Chinese specialists will have to develop and build ships and carrier-based aircraft, equip naval bases and deal with other issues.

Ready ships

In September 2012, the first Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning entered the PLA Navy. This ship was originally built in the USSR as an aircraft-carrying cruiser, project 1143.6. Later, construction was stopped, and a few years later the ship ended up in China. In 2005-2011. Chinese shipbuilders redesigned the aircraft carrier according to their design "Type 001", and in this form it was brought to the operational strength.

On the basis of pr. "001" and the accumulated experience, a new project "Type 002" was developed. Construction of the lead ship of this type started in the fall of 2013. Later it was named Shandong. In the spring of 2018, the aircraft carrier entered sea trials, and in December 2019 it was admitted to the Navy.

"Liaoning" in one of the last campaigns, April 2021. Photo by the Japanese Ministry of Defense

The aircraft carriers "Liaoning" and "Shandong" are ships with a length of more than 300 m with a total displacement of less than 70 thousand tons with a boiler and turbine power plant. The flight deck is equipped with a bow springboard and an air guard. It is known that during the creation of pr. "002" the springboard has undergone changes. It was redesigned to match the characteristics of Chinese fighters.

The ships are capable of carrying about 26 J-15 fighters, as well as helicopters for various purposes of several models. Unlike the original Soviet project, the Chinese "Type 001" and "Type 002" provide for the installation of only defensive weapons - anti-aircraft guns and short-range missile systems.

During exercises and campaigns, Chinese aircraft carriers operate as part of ship groups. Typically, such an AUG includes one Type 055 destroyer, a pair of Type 052D destroyers, at least one 054A frigate, and various support vessels. Whether submarines take part in the strike groups is unknown.

The Shandong ship in port, June 2019 Photo by Wikimedia Commons

The state of the surface forces in theory allows the PLA Navy to form several AUG of the required composition. Thus, there are 32 Type 054A frigates and 18 Type 052D destroyers in service. This is more than enough to support and protect any realistic number of aircraft carriers, as well as to solve other problems while maintaining a large reserve. In the case of Type 055 destroyers, the situation looks different. Of the 16 planned ships, only 3 have entered service so far, which may impose some planning restrictions.

Ship future

Earlier it was officially reported that China will continue to build aircraft carriers on projects of its own design. Various publications and statements have mentioned the need for 5-6 ships. It is curious that the PLA Navy is not yet planning a serial approach: until a certain time, only one ship will be built for each project.

In the early tenths, various sources, including official ones, repeatedly mentioned plans to build a third aircraft carrier. Also on display were models showing the possible appearance of such a ship. Real construction started in 2015 or 2016 and is being carried out by the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. The ship belongs to a new project known as Type 003. His name is unknown and probably hasn't been chosen yet.

Training flights of carrier-based fighters J-15, 2020 Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China

Recently, new satellite images of the plant where the aircraft carrier is being built were released. The main contours have already been formed and the superstructure has been installed, but the ship is still on the slipway. The general condition of the hull suggests that this year it will be launched and transferred to the outfitting wall. Taking into account subsequent work, the ship will enter service no earlier than 2022-23.

According to various estimates, the aircraft carrier pr. "003" is slightly longer and wider than its predecessors, but the displacement may reach the level of 80-90 thousand tons. It is assumed that the ship will receive a non-nuclear integrated power plant. The photo shows that the flight deck is smooth. Earlier, it was repeatedly mentioned that the ship will receive electromagnetic catapults. Aviation the group will include at least 40-45 J-15 aircraft. In the future, it is possible to use new fighters such as the FC-31.

According to foreign reports, China is already engaged in a new aircraft carrier project "Type 004". The Chinese side does not confirm such work, and in this regard, the possible appearance of the future ship is formed only by various assessments. Whether they correspond to real views on a promising ship is unknown.

The location of the main bases of the PLA Navy. Graphics Globalsecurity.org

According to popular versions, "Type 004" will be larger and heavier than its predecessors. Its length can reach 330-350 m, and its displacement will reach the level of 90-110 thousand tons. The growth in size will be offset by a nuclear power plant, the first in a Chinese aircraft carrier navy.

It is assumed that the ship will be able to carry at least 70-80 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. Considering the expected timing of its appearance, we can expect the use of promising samples of aviation technology. You should also wait for the presence of air defense systems. The most daring versions suggest the use of laser defense systems.

"Type 004" should surpass its predecessors in all respects. In addition, such a ship will be on par with leading foreign models in terms of its capabilities. It is quite possible that the project "004" for the first time in Chinese practice will become serial. With the help of 3-4 such ships, it will be possible to bring the aircraft carrier fleet to the desired number and the required quality indicators.

Desired composition of "String of pearls". Graphics Factmil.com

Basing issues

The PLA Navy has at its disposal about 15 large naval bases distributed along the entire coast of the country. At the same time, not all such facilities are currently capable of receiving aircraft carriers and providing their service. Ports with appropriate capabilities are already being used to support the activities of two aircraft carriers and ship groups. Existing Chinese aircraft carriers have repeatedly been spotted at major naval bases, although their home ports have not yet been disclosed.

In recent years, China has been pursuing an active foreign policy, which, among other things, provides for the deployment of military facilities abroad. In the context of the development of the Navy, the concept of "String of Pearls" is being implemented. It provides for the creation of a "line" of several naval bases and support points along the coast of the Pacific and Indian oceans.

For warships of the PLA Navy, more than a dozen ports are already available in several countries of the region. They are mainly used to supply ships on cruises and to solve other auxiliary tasks. At the same time, full-fledged naval bases with developed coastal groupings are being built on the disputed Paracel Islands and on the Spratly Islands. The construction of a base in Djibouti is also continuing - the first full-fledged facility of its kind on the territory of a foreign state.


Overseas bases and points can receive ships of different classes, up to large destroyers and cruisers. In the future, the fleet will have to ensure the possibility of receiving aircraft carriers that are even larger in size and draft. With a favorable development of events and with the necessary opportunities, China plans to build up to 8-10 full-fledged bases, both within the framework of the "thread" being formed, and in more remote regions.

Big plans

In the next 15-20 years, the Chinese naval forces plan to form up to 5-6 carrier strike groups and build up to a dozen remote bases. All this will seriously affect the state of the Chinese fleet and make it a full-fledged force capable of operating in almost all regions of the World Ocean. In addition, the PLA Navy will become an equal contender for the US Navy.

However, all these events are expected only in the distant future. And in the short and medium term, the fleet and shipbuilding will have to work long and fruitfully. It is necessary to continue the process of developing aircraft carriers and carrier-based aviation, to train personnel and, at the same time, prepare infrastructure. Whether China will be able to fulfill all the tasks set is a big question. However, in the recent past, he has repeatedly shown and proven his ability to set ambitious goals and achieve them.

Comments

[Toucan]

The publication contains too much "extra water" and very little useful information. It seems that the author was chasing the number of printed characters.

[Civil]

The Chinese Communist Party has brought the PRC's fleet to the world leaders, and first to the economy. The Chinese Communists do not send their ardent greetings to the proud inhabitants of one capital country 3 in the world.

[smart fellow]

The ships are capable of carrying about 26 J-15 fighters

Liaoning - 24, Shandong - 36 as they write in the media.

[Doccor18]

Taking advantage of the collapse of the USSR, the PRC was able to begin the implementation of its naval aircraft carrier program. But so far they have not gone far from the Varyag.
If China overcomes its Ford in the next 10 years, the fate of the United States is unenviable. For it is unrealistic to fight against a giant industrial Chinese flywheel, backed by its own scientific potential and almost limitless financial capabilities ...

[donavi49]

1-2 Varangians.
3 - Kitty Hawk.

4 - already Nimitz-Ford.
Not bad at all.

Another 3 UDCs for this - the head one, the second - has already run off and is preparing to receive a w / n, and the third is being completed (4 have not yet been laid down, at least in Shanghai - part of the frigates, part 071E is the first and largest export contract of China in terms of displacement - 20k .t landing ship for Thailand).

Video from the head:


The destroyers have a wagon and a cart. It says here they say 3 pieces were accepted. Yes, 3 pieces were accepted. But 2 more are on the state, and 4 are being completed afloat. And that's 112 missile destroyers bigger than Burke. They already have a fleet of 64 missiles of 20-22 by the end of this year. By the way, they are also repairing 956. And not for 5-7 years, but for 1,5 years they made 137 - replacing the main battery with their version of a supersonic heavy anti-ship missile system, replacing the air defense missile system with 2 TLU blocks, replacing old heavy torpedoes with their MK46 clones, installing a new air defense missile system similar to the American RIM -116.

[Doccor18]

Quote: donavi49

1-2 Varangians.
3 - Kitty Hawk.
4 - already Nimitz-Ford.
Not bad at all.

I agree.
055, 075 and 003 are already a qualitative leap forward.

[NIKN]

Taking advantage of the collapse of the USSR, the PRC was able to begin the implementation of its naval aircraft carrier program.

That is, if it were not for the collapse, they would be engaged in spears? What is it like?

[demiurg]

Note for those wishing to build an aircraft carrier and super destroyers tomorrow.
China, the first real economy, 1.5 billion people. They go in small steps, gradually gaining experience and qualifications.
Russia is much weaker economically, with 140 million citizens. Yes, we still have some experience. But we have lost the qualifications of designers, engineers, workers over the years of downtime. And we have to restore it with the same steps. There are no miracles.

[ramzay21]

30 years ago, the Chinese economy was smaller than the Russian economy, and no one believed then that they could become the second. They had a semi-literate rural population and no technology at all. But they did little more than nothing, and their leaders understood what was needed for the development of the country, they changed leaders every 10 years but did not change the system and course.

Over the course of 30 years, we have witnessed a degradation of everything and, above all, power. The current government is not trying to make the country strong, it is rushing about in search of a strong partner from the West to China, trying to find support there. Our government does not have a reasonable plan for the development of either the economy or the country; all actions are momentary and situational, hence all the failures.
Over the past 10 years, our GDP has not changed, that is, our economy has not grown in 10 years. During this time, China's economy has grown 2,5 times.
Have our people who made the strongest country in the world become stupid and lazy? Not. Napoleon was right. A herd of rams under the control of a lion is always stronger than a herd of lions under the control of a ram.

[demiurg]

Now please tell us about one country with a comparable population that has a comparable military force. Neither France, nor Germany, nor Japan can independently develop tanks / space rockets / aircraft / engines for all this. And we can, and not only for ourselves, but also for export. We are the second largest arms exporter on the planet, after the United States, with a population of 350 million.

[ramzay21]

Our export is the achievements of the USSR, when we really were a powerful economic power, invested money in science and development. All weapons sold for export are either modernization of Soviet weapons or Soviet developments. What has been done modern over the past 30 years from scratch? Only the Su-57, and in the army it is in a single copy.

For other countries, please. Japan has built its frigates and corvettes, its aircraft-carrying ships, its diesel submarines, and the best in the world, its space rockets, their Navy is now much more modern and surpasses not only our Pacific Fleet, but the entire Navy in terms of combat capability.
The French Rafale is better and more modern than our MiG-35, the modernization of the Soviet MiG-29, the French have excellent PLAT, frigates and a full-fledged aircraft carrier. Germany produces excellent tanks, diesel submarines, frigates and corvettes, as well as small arms.

[demiurg]

Whose engines are on Japanese ships and French planes?
Do the Japs have a larger fleet than the Pacific Fleet? And can all the Russian fleets be counted in total? Let us compare the Air Force and the Land Forces. And our nuclear submarine fleet need not be mentioned. And we also have the Strategic Missile Forces.
The French in the ground forces, the air force and the navy are notably lagging behind us.

[ramzay21]

Do the Japs have a larger fleet than the Pacific Fleet? And can all the Russian fleets be counted in total?

The Japanese navy has a much higher combat capability. Surface ships of the Pacific Fleet is a collection of museum pieces, not a fleet.
What can our cruiser Varyag do to one of the 8 Japanese URO destroyers? Nothing! Its 16 ancient Volcanoes fly so high, and there are so few of them, that they do not present any difficulty for the air defense of any destroyer.
But 64 modern anti-ship missiles, flying at an altitude of 5 meters, the Fort air defense missile system is not able to shoot down.

How many ships in our Navy can carry 64 anti-ship missiles? So far, not a single one in the entire fleet, at the Pacific Fleet, they are not even expected.

It's better not to think about the submarine fleet. SSBNs are not intended to fight ships and submarines, they themselves must be protected. Who will do it? At the Pacific Fleet there is only one Pike-B and two Varshavyankas, they have nothing to oppose to 21 Japanese submarines, of which 12 Soryu we have nothing to detect at all.
You can forget about 29 destroyers, 6 frigates and 4 helicopter carriers.
If we remember that they already have 25 modern Kawasaki P-1 ASW aircraft, and there will be 70 of them, plus their frigates and destroyers, and we have a difficult to overcome ASW system.
Our ancient PLO aircraft in single copies, several BODs with old GAS and several corvettes are simply not able to provide protection against Japanese submarines, especially since we have nothing to detect Soryu.

[Revival]

Not France?
Right?

[Vladimir1155]

it is obvious that China has a clear program for the use of aircraft carriers and only then their construction, obvious facts 1) aircraft carriers are designed to protect China's interests in remote areas where large funds have been invested 2) aircraft carriers already have sufficient escort forces (first escort forces, and then aircraft carriers), the Chinese do not put a cart in front of a horse 3) aircraft carriers are called up for combat missions against small states that do not have nuclear weapons and far from their shores 4) bases far from their shores are ready for aircraft carriers and their escort 5) China has financial resources and factories for construction. \ repair , berths and the main task ... they would have come in handy for Kuzya

[yehat2]

In the near future, China needs to have 2 active strike squadrons - in the east and west.
This means that there are 2 active avics and 1-2 in stock for maintenance. Therefore, I think that China will create 1 more experimental avik to debug the technology, and then build a series of 4 and write off all the previous ones.

[donavi49]

By the way, they say that after 23 years Varyag will probably go for modernization under an export project and sales to Pakistan.

[yehat2]

very strange
given the tightness around India and tensions, it is not clear how Pakistan can use the avik.

[ramzay21]

By the way, they say that after 23 years Varyag will probably go for modernization under an export project and sales to Pakistan.

That is unlikely. The Chinese do everything wisely, and think first of all about their interests. They have modernized our destroyers 956 and continue to use, and our former Varyag has an even higher value, its availability allows us to have a full-fledged AUG. Even when the Chinese have several aircraft carriers, it can be used as a training one.
Kuzya is an excellent ship, he just had no luck with the owners.

[donavi49]

Well, the Chinese are on their minds. On the one hand, indeed, 956 destroyers are being repaired with extensive modernization (new Chinese anti-ship missiles, instead of two beams - 2 VPUs under Calm with a new missile, a new short-range air defense system, new torpedoes, a new version of the Fregat radar, etc.).

And this is not the end of it. They also refit their destroyers from the dark noughties when they made ships at the Iranian level.

However, there is also a downside. They are decommissioning many relatively fresh ships and refitting them for sale. For example, all 053 are distributed.

[IC]

Unfortunately, Kiiai repeats the mistakes of other big countries. Puts overwhelming resources into what becomes scrap metal as a result.

[swzero]

iPhones and cars turn into scrap metal much earlier than ships

[Glagol1]

Dill gave the ship / less than $ 20 million / and the Su-33 for a song for a pittance. China won at least 5-7 years on this and a lot of money. Country 404 at its finest. For 30 years they traded in the Soviet legacy, which they despise. But that's it, the legacy is over, Motor Sich and 2-3 more enterprises and that's it ...