Chinese aircraft carrier programme

Since the 1970s, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has expressed interest in operating an aircraft carrier as part of its blue water aspirations.^[1] In 2011, People's Liberation Army Chief of the General Staff Chen Bingde confirmed that China was constructing at least one aircraft carrier.^[2] On 25 September 2012, China's first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, was commissioned. On 31 December 2015 it was reported by several news sources that China was building a second aircraft carrier using entirely indigenous design.^[3]

Since 1985, China has acquired four retired aircraft carriers for study, the Australian HMAS Melbourne and the ex-Soviet carriers Minsk, Kiev and Varyag. Reports state that two 60,000 ton Type 089 aircraft carriers based on Varyag are due to be finished by 2015.^[4] Sukhoi Su-33s are the aircraft most likely to be flown from these carriers,^[5] but China has also developed its own multirole fighter, the Shenyang J-15.^[6]

Acquisition of retired aircraft carriers

Chinese shipyards have gained some exposure to carrier design with the acquisition of retired hulls such as the Australian HMAS Melbourne acquired in 1985. The carrier was not dismantled for many years and according to some reports she was not completely broken up until 2002.^[7]

Through various ventures, China has also purchased the ex-Soviet carriers Minsk^[8] and Kiev. These carriers have become floating amusement parks for tourists.

There had been other plans to purchase foreign second-hand carriers in the past. For example, a possible deal between China and France for the sale of the Clemenceau fell through in 1997.^[9]

ex-HMAS Melbourne

Chinese reverse-engineered a land-based replica of the steam catapult and landing system from that of HMAS Melbourne, and a J-8IIG was used to conduct take-off and landing trials on the land-based flight deck in April 1987, which was not finally confirmed officially until 27 years later in April 2014 by CCTV-13.^[10] Both the take-off and landing were conducted on the same day, and the test pilot was PLANAF pilot Li Guoqiang (李国强).^[11] The experience gained was applied to the Shenyang J-15.^[12]

ex-Kiev

Several days after ex-Varyag went on its first-sea-trial in August 2011, ex-Kiev welcomed guests in its new role as a luxury hotel with a £9.6 million ($15.6 million) refit. The owners believe that China's naval ambitions as well as a general curiosity about aircraft carriers will result in public interest.^[13]

Liaoning

Liaoning before refurbishment

The 67,500 ton ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag (Kuznetsov class), which was only 70% completed and floating in Ukraine, was purchased through a private Macau tourist venture in 1998. Following her troublesome tow to Dalian shipyard, the carrier underwent a long refit. Varyag had been stripped of any military equipment as well as her propulsion systems prior to being put up for sale. In 2007 there were news reports that she was being fitted out to enter service.^[4][14]

On 10 August 2011, it was announced that the refurbishment of Varyag was complete, and that it was undergoing sea trials.^[15][16]

On 14 December 2011, DigitalGlobe, an American Satellite imaging company, announced that while scouring through pictures taken December 8, they had discovered the retrofitted Varyag undergoing trials, DigitalGlobe further stated that their images captured the ship in the Yellow Sea where it operated for 5 days.^[17]

In September 2012, it was announced that this carrier would be named Liaoning, after Liaoning Province of China. On 23 September 2012, Liaoning was handed over to the People's Liberation Army Navy, but is not yet in active service.^[18]

In November 2012, the first landing was successfully conducted on Liaoning with Shenyang J-15.^[19]

Acquisition of designs

In addition to the acquisition of retired aircraft carriers of foreign navies, the PLAN has been actively purchasing foreign aircraft carrier designs as well. One such example was its effort to purchase the blueprints for proposed conventional take off/landing ships from Empresa Nacional Bazan of Spain; the 23,000 ton SAC-200 and the 25,000 ton SAC-220 designs. Negotiations started between 1995 – 1996 but did not result in any purchase. However, the Spanish firm was paid several million US dollars in consulting fees, indicating the probable transfer of some design concepts.^[9]

After the Spanish firm had submitted its findings, Russian warship designer Nevskoye Design Bureau completed an aircraft carrier design for China in the late 1990s to meet the Chinese requirement but neither Russia nor China disclosed the price. Neither did the two countries reveal any information on whether China was satisfied with the design or not. In any case, no aircraft carriers based on the design were built, as limited Chinese industrial capabilities in the late-1990s made it impractical for China to start any construction of aircraft carriers.

A complete set of blueprints of a foreign aircraft carrier design was obtained by China when it purchased the decommissioned Soviet aircraft carrier Kiev. Russia insisted on China buying the blueprints as well for a higher price, but neither country has revealed the exact dollar value. However, based on the official information released by the Chinese government on aircraft carriers, all of which dictates conventional design, the V/STOL design does not appear to fit the Chinese requirement.

The complete set of blueprints of a foreign aircraft carrier design obtained by China when it purchased the incomplete Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag is the most recent purchase. Ukraine urged China to increase the original $18 million bid to include additional purchase of the complete set of blueprints of the design, and after negotiations, China agreed to pay another $2 million to purchase the complete set of blueprints. According to the memoir of Chinese embassy staff members who participated in the process, the blueprints reached China before the ship. This conventional design offers more capability.

Early plans

The first official plan of PLAN aircraft carrier development dated back on March 31, 1987 when the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense approved the plan on the aircraft carrier and the next generation nuclear submarine for PLAN submitted by the then commander-in-chief of PLAN, Liu Huaqing. The original plan was to be progressed in stages, with basic research to be completed by the end of the 7th 5-year plan, and development of the platform and aircraft to be completed by the end of the 8th 5-year plan. By 2000, construction was to begin when ordered.

To prepare the commanders needed for the future aircraft carriers, the Central Military Commission approved the program of training jet fighter pilots to be future captains in May 1987, and the Guangzhou Naval Academy (Chinese: 广州舰艇学院; pinyin: Guǎngzhōu jiàntǐng xuéyuàn) was selected as the site.^[9]

However, Liu Huaqing’s plan proved to be too ambitious as the domestic Chinese industry at the time could not meet the goal demanded by the plan. As a result, the plan was drastically scaled back to basic research level and the date for an aircraft carrier entering PLAN service was postponed and eventually put on hold. In the meantime, pilot candidates for warship captain training was also altered, with candidates switched to ship-borne helicopter pilots, because it was considered that naval helicopter pilots with much more ship-borne aviation experience would be better prepared than the land-based jet fighter pilots who lack ship-borne aviation experience.

Current status

In mid-2007, Chinese domestic sources revealed that China had purchased a total of four sets of aircraft carrier landing systems from Russia^[20] and this was confirmed by Russian manufacturers. However, experts disagreed on the usage of these systems: while some have claimed that it is a clear evidence of the construction of an aircraft carrier, others claim these systems are used to train pilots for a future ship. In August, 2008, Mr. Huang Qiang (黄强), the speaker of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense announced to the public at a news conference that China had mastered all of the technologies for an aircraft carrier, and would build aircraft carriers in the future when the time was deemed right.

There are media reports of a possibility of China building nuclear-powered aircraft carriers,^[21][22] however the U.S. Department of Defense 2011 Chinese military assessment makes no mention of possible nuclear-powered aircraft carrier development.^[23] According to the Nippon News Network (NNN), research and development on the planned carriers is being carried out at a military research facility in Wuhan. NNN states that the actual carriers will be constructed at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.^[24] Kanwa Intelligence Review reports that the second carrier to be constructed will likely be assigned to Qingdao.^[25]

According to a February 2011 report in the The Daily Telegraph, the Chinese military has constructed a concrete aircraft carrier flight deck to use for training carrier pilots and carrier operations personnel. The deck was constructed on top of a government building near Wuhan (Wuhan Technical College of Communication campus next to Huangjiahu).^[26]

On 7 June 2011, People's Liberation Army Chief of the General Staff Chen Bingde confirmed that China was constructing its own aircraft carrier. He stated he would provide no further details until it was complete.^[2]

On 30 July 2011, a senior researcher of the Academy of Military Sciences said China needed at least three aircraft carriers. "If we consider our neighbours, India will have three aircraft carriers by 2014 and Japan will have three carriers by 2014, so I think the number (for China) should not be less than three so we can defend our rights and our maritime interests effectively." General Luo Yuan.^[27] In July 2011, a Chinese official announced that two aircraft carriers were being built at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.^[28][29] On 21 May 2012, Taiwan's intelligence chief Tsai Teh-sheng told the Legislative Yuan that the PLA Navy plans to build two carriers, scheduled to start construction in 2013 and 2015 and launch in 2020 and 2022 respectively.^[30] On 24 April 2013, Chinese Rear Admiral Song Xue confirmed that China will build more carriers and these will be larger and will carry more fighter-planes than Liaoning.^[31] In December 2013, China's Central Military Commission told Duowei News it planned to commission two Liaoning-pattern aircraft carriers by 2020, designated as Type 001A. Contracts have been awarded to China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation to build the two carriers. The cost is projected to be US$9 billion.^[32] A waist catapult could be fitted to one or both vessels to facilitate airborne early warning aircraft operation and air control. Presently Liaoning combines unassisted ski-jump launched aircraft with helicopters for anti-submarine and air defense operations.

China has also developed a carrier-based fighter aircraft, the Shenyang J-15. On 25 November 2012, it was announced that at least two Shenyang J-15's had successfully landed on Liaoning.^[19][33] The pilot who achieved the first landing was named as Dai Mingmeng (戴明盟).^[34] According to Chinese media reports, the J-15 cannot take off Liaoning with a full weapons and fuel load exceeding 12 tons, being unable to get off the carrier’s ski jump ramp.^[35] The Shenyang J-31 is a fifth generation fighter aircraft being developed by China that may in future be adopted for carrier use.

Ships in class

See also

• List of aircraft carriers in service
• Jiangnan Shipyard
• DF-21D – Chinese anti-ship ballistic missile

References

External links

• China / Aircraft Carrier Project, GlobalSecurity.org

Ship classes of the People's Liberation Army Navy List of active ships Submarines (list) Nuclear ballistic missile (SSBN) Type 096 Tang class* Type 094 Jin class Type 092 Xia class Nuclear attack (SSN) Type 095 ? class* Type 093/G Shang class Type 091 Han class Conventional ballistic missile (SSB) Type 032 Qing class Modified Project 629 Golf class: Type 6631/031+ Conventional attack (SS/SSK) Air-independent propulsion equipped submarine (SSI/SSP) Type 039A/AG/B/C (Type 041)Yuan class Hunter-killer submarine (SSK) Type 039/039G Song class Project 636 Kilo II class Project 877EKM Kilo I class ES5E/F and Type 035G/035ET/035B Ming class Medium submarines (SS) ES5C/D and Type 035/035A Ming class Project 633+/Type 6633+/033+/ES5A+/ ES5B+/Romeo class Type 033G+ Wuhan class Type 033G1 Wuhan-A class+ S class+ Midget submarines (SSM) M class+ Type 032+ Type 032-1+ Type 030+ Principal surface combatants Aircraft carriers (CV) Chinese aircraft carrier programme Type 002 class* Type 001A class* Type 001 class Liaoning (16) Cruisers (CL) Arethusa class: HMS Aurora (12)+ Destroyers (DDG) Type 055 class* Type 052D class Type 052C Luyang II (Lanzhou) class Type 052B Luyang I class Type 052 Luhu class Type 051C Luzhou class Type 051B Luhai class Type 051DT Luda IV class Type 051G1/G2 Luda III class Type 051 Luda II class Type 051 Luda I class+ Project 956EM Sovremennyy II class Project 956 Sovremennyy I class Anshan class+ Frigates (FFG) Type 054B class* Type 054A Jiangkai II class Type 054 Jiangkai I (Ma'anshan) class Type 053H3 Jiangwei II class Type 053H2G Jiangwei I class Type 053H1G Jianghu V class Type 053H1Q Jianghu IV class Type 053H2 Jianghu III class Type 053H1 Jianghu II class Type 053H Jianghu I class Coastal warfare vessels Corvettes (FS) Type 056 Jiangdao class Bathurst class+ Castle class+ Flower class+ Submarine chasers (PCSC) Type 037-IS Haiqing class Type 037-I Haijiu class Type 062-I Haizhui class Type 037 Hainan class Project 122bis Kronshtadt class Coastal defence ships (K) Etorofu class+ Type C (No. 1 class)+ Type D (No. 2 class)+ Ukuru class+ Yongfeng class+ Armed merchantman (SP) Ruijin class+ Naval trawlers Missile boats (PCM) Type 022 Houbei class Type 037-II Houjian class Type 037-IG Houxin class Type 021 Houdong class Type 021 Huangfeng (Soviet Osa-I) class Type 021 Hola class C 14 China Cat class Type 024 Heku/Hegu/Houku/Hougu class Torpedo boats (PT) Type 6625/025/026/026II/R704 Huchuan class Type 027/027IIB Huzhou class+ Type 6602/6702/02/7102II+ P4 class+ P6 class+ P8 class+ Gunboats (PG) Seagoing Type 062-I Shanghai III class Type 062 Shanghai II class Type 062 Shanghai I class Type 206 Huludao class Type 55/55AShantou class+ Beihai class+ Type 53/53A/54AHuangpu class+ Yulin class+ Hashidate-class gunboat+ Type 0101+ Type 0105+ Type 0109+ Type 0112+ Type 52/52A+ Riverine (PBR) Atami class+ Falcon class+ Fushimi class+ Minquan class+ HMS Gannet+ Seta class+ Toba class+ Patrol boats (PB) Seagoing Type 026H Reconnaissance patrol combatant (PGR) Type 528 Type 865 Amphibious warfare vessels Landing helicopter dock (LHD) or Landing helicopter assault (LHA) Type 075 LHA/LHD ? class* Amphibious transport dock (LPD) Type 071 Yuzhao class Dock landing ship (LSD) Type 072III Yuting II class Type 072A Yuting II class Landing ship helicopter (LSH) Type 073-III Yudeng class Type 073A Yunshu class Landing ship tank (LST) Type 072 Yukan class Type 072-II Yuting I class LST-542 class+ Landing ship medium (LSM) Type 271IIIA Yulü class Type 073-I Yudao class Type 073-II Yudao class Type 073-IIY Yudao class Type 074A Yubei class Type 079-I Yulian class Type 079-II Yulian class LSM-1 class+ Landing craft (LC) Landing craft infantry (LCI) LCI(L)+ Landing craft mechanized (LCM) Type 363/363A/55 LCM+ Landing craft tank (LCT) Type 068/069 Yuch'in class Type 067 Yunnan class Type 066/066K/066A Yuzhai class+ LCT Mk 5 & Mk 6+ Landing craft utility (LCU) Type 271-I Yupen class+ Type 271-II+ Type 271-IID+ Type 271III Type 074 Yuhai (Wuhu-A) class LCU 1600 series+ Air-cushioned Landing Craft (LCAC) Project 1232.2 Zubr class Type 726Yuyi class LCAC Type 724 LCAC Type 722-II Jinsha II class LCAC Type 722-I Jinsha I class LCAC Type 716-II Dagu B class LCAC Type 716-I Dagu A class LCAC+ Type 711 LCAC+ Songling LCAC+ Mine warfare vessels (MCM) Minelayers (ML) Type 918 Wolei class Sokuten class+ Minehunters (MH) Type 081 Wochi class Type 081A Type 082 Wosao class Type 082II Wozang class Minesweepers (MS) Type 057K Lianyun class+ Type 010 Type 6605+ Type 6610+ Type 05 T-43 class+ Type 058+ Type 7102+ Type 062 Fushun class+ Minesweeping drone (MSD) Type 529 Type 312 Futi class Auxiliary vessels Ammunition ships (AE/AEM) Ammunition ship (AE) 400t-class Yantai class Ammunition ship, Missile/Rocket (AEM) Yuan Wang 21 Yuan Wang 22 Buoy tenders (AGL) Type 066 Type 744 Yannan class Type 911I Type 985 Type 994 Type 999 Type 999G Type 999HG Cargo ships (AK) Cargo ships (AK) Danlin class Dandao class Galați class Qiongsha class Flow-on/flow- off ship (AKF) Donghai Island class General stores issue ships (AKS) Type 904 Dayun class Type 904A Type 904B Reefer ships (AF) Dongdao class Dongleng class Roll-on/roll- off ship (AKR) Type 701 Self-propelled lighter/barge (YF) 500 cubic meter class barge Dongbo 22 class Dongbo 39 class Degaussing / deperming ships (ADG) Type 911 Type 912 Type 912I Type 912III Yanbai class Type 912IIIA Type 912IIIAH Type 915+ Type 916+ Type 918+ Type 601+ Sea Fish 16 class+ Yan Fang class+ Yerka class+ Dive tenders (YDT) Type 904I Type 904II Engineering ships Cable layers (ARC) Type 890 Youzheng class Type 911II Type 991I Type 991II Youdian class Crane ship (AB) Beiqi 346 class Beiqi 384 class Dredgers (AGD) 8-m3 class Beijun 204 class Dongjun 417 class Dongjun 433 class Dongjun 434 class Nanjun 610 class Floating pile drivers (YPD ) 36-m class floating pile driver Donggong 429 class Nangong 681 class Hospital ships (AH) Hospital ships (AH) Type 920 hospital ship Medical evacuation ships (AHP) Zhuanghe Ambulance transports (APH) Qiongsha class Ambulance craftd (YH) Beiyi 01 class Icebreakers (AGB) Type 071 Yanha class icebreaker Type 071A Type 071G Type 210 Yanbing class Type 272 Museum ships Dingyuan (replica) Zhiyuan (replica) Zhongshan Decommissioned ships Personnel transport (AP) Barracks ships (APB) Xu Xiake Dispatch boat (YFB) Beijiao 39 class Beijiao 57 class Beijiao 75 class Beijiao 77 class Dongjiao 03 class Dongjiao 82 class Nanjiao 83 class Nanjiao 90 class Transport ships (AP) Type 081 Red Flag class Troopships (APT) Beidiao 990 Qiongsha class Replenishment ship (AEFS) Type 901* Type 903 Fuchi class Type 903A Type 905 Fuqing class Type 908 Fusu (Nancang) class Repair ships (AR) Repair dry docks (ARD) 120t class Dongxiu 912 Repair ships (AR) Type 648 Dadao class Rescue and salvage ships Heavy-lift ship (YHLC) Type 633 Rescue ships (ARS) Type 917 Salvage ships (ATS) Type 922 Type 922II Dalang class Type 922III Dalang II class Type 922IIIA Dalang II class Scientific research ships Environmental research ships (AGER) 300t-class Hydrographic survey ships (AGS) Type 068/069 Yuch'in class Type 625C Type 635 A/B/C Yanlai class Type 635II Type 636 Type 636A Type 646 Kan Yang class Type 988 Oceanographic research ships (AGOR) Xiangyanghong 5 Type 614III Type 625A/B Type 645 Zhang Jian Oceanographic surveillance ships (AGOS) Type 6610 Shuguang class Type 595 Type 639 Space exploration tracking ships (ARIS) Yuan Wang 1+ Yuan Wang 2+ Yuan Wang 3 Yuan Wang 4+ Yuan Wang 5 Yuan Wang 6 Weather ships (AGH) Type 614I Type 614II Spy ships (AGI) Type 813 Type 814A Dadi class Type 815 Type 815G Submarine support ships Submarine rescue ships (ASR) Type 930 Hudong class Type 946 Dazhou class Type 946A Dadong class Submarine tenders (AS) Type 925 Dajiang class Type 926 Submersibles (X) Deep-submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV) Type 7103 DSRV LR7 Deep-submergence vehicle (DSV) Harmony class Jiaolong class Rainbowfish class Sea Pole class Other Submersibles (X) Osprey-class submersible Mobile diving bell QSZ-II submersible Diver propulsion vehicles (DPV) QX-50 QY-18 QY-40 QJY-001 Tankers Replenishment tanker (AOR) Beiyou 572 class Type 631 Type 905 Fuqing class Transport oiler (AOT) Dongyou 630 class Dongyou 640 class Jinyou class Leizhou class Type 620 Shengli class Type 626 Fuzhou class Type 632 Fulin class Type 637 Type 645 Guangzhou class Water tanker (AWT) Dongshui 649 class Leizhou class Nanshui 701 class Type 626 Fuzhou class Type 632 Fulin class Type 645 Guangzhou class Type 646 Technological research ships Missile range instrumentation ships (AGM) Type 830 Sonar trials ships Beidiao 993 Target ships (AGT) Chinese target ship Experiment 216 Decommissioned ships Technical research ships (AGTR) Mirage Hunter Torpedo retrievers (TR/TWR) Type 803 torpedo retriever Type 917 torpedo retriever Torpedo trials ships (YTT) Type 906 Type 907A Weapon trials ships (AVM/AGM) Yanxi class Type 909 Wuhu-B class Type 909A Dahua class Training ships (AX) Type 679 Daxing class Type 0891A Shichang class Yanxi class Decommissioned ships Tugs (AT) Rescue Tug (ATR) Daozha class Type 830 Nantuo 181 class Sea-going Tug (ATA) Type 802 Gromovoy class Type 837 Hujiu class Type 852 Roslavl class Harbor tug (AT) 3200hp-class Beituo 617 class Beituo 625 class Beituo 632 class Beituo 659 class Beituo 699 class Beituo 702 class Beituo 715 class Haixiu 121 class Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) Remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROUV) 8A4 ROUV RECON-IV ROUV 7B8 ROUV Goldfish class ROUV HR-01 ROUV HR-02 ROUV JH-01 ROUV SJT-5 ROUV SJT-10 ROUV SJT-40 ROUV Seahorse ROUV Sea Dragon-I ROUV Sea Dragon-II ROUV Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Arctic class ARV Explorer AUV WZODA AUV CR-01 AUV CR-01A AUV CR-02 AUV Intelligent Water class AUV Submerged Dragon 1 AUV Petrel I HUG Petrel II HUG * = Under construction or procurement + = Retired