China's Next Aircraft Carrier Will Be Based On Old Soviet Blueprints

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James Goldrick, National Interest: Why China's Next Aircraft Carrier Will Be Based on Soviet Blueprints

China has at last formally acknowledged that it has a new aircraft carrier under construction, the first to be built in China and the second in the People's Liberation Army-Navy's order of battle.

The PLA Navy appears to have embarked on a substantial carrier program, probably with the intention of creating four and perhaps up to six carrier battle groups (Chinese commentators have publicly acknowledged the need for at least three units in order to have an effective carrier capability). The rehabilitated ex-Russian carrier Liaoning, designated Carrier 16, has been the start of this effort, although its reliability has yet to be confirmed.

Experience gained with the ship will be used to evolve the follow-on units which are entering production. However, the challenge involved with these new carriers will not so much be the build, but the design. That the first new-built carrier will be in most respects a copy of the Soviet designed Liaoning should be no surprise. This is China's only practicable course of action if it is to get another unit into service in good time.

Update: China domestic aircraft carrier has conservative updating of the Soviet version they converted and the next ships will upgrade to nuclear propulsion and electromag launching of planes (Next Big Future).

WNU Editor: I remember reading years ago a Russian publication on why it was difficult for Russia to build an aircraft carrier that was the equivalent to the U.S. Navy's Nimitz class. Basically it runs down to knowledge earned over decades of experience in both peace time and war .... a status that only the U.S. Navy really has. As for the Chinese .... they will need decades to catch up, but it is a commitment that it appears they are willing to take.