China's New Aircraft Carrier Will Have A Smaller Fighter Jet Force Than Expected

China Navy Type 002 Aircraft Carrier Standard Configuration:
24 J-15 Fighter
3 J-15D EW Fighter
6 Z-18F ASW Helicopter
4 Z-18Y AEW&C Helicopter
2 Z-18A VIP Transport Helicopter
1 Z-8JH Medical Helicopter
2 Z-9S Rescue Helicopter pic.twitter.com/vsb0Rg4JMY

— 龙龑之 (@Loongnaval) August 27, 2019

SCMP: China military’s new Shandong aircraft carrier set to have smaller fighter jet force than expected

* CCTV footage indicates that the vessel might have just 24 J-15s on board rather than the 36 previously expected
* The carrier also needs more time to get up to minimum operational speed, observers say

China’s new aircraft carrier, the Shandong, will have fewer fighter jets on board than expected and needs more time to hone its operations to meet minimum deployment standards, according to military observers.

About 30 carrier-based fighter jet pilots were present on Tuesday when President Xi Jinping commissioned the Shandong in Sanya, Hainan province, according to footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV.

The turnout suggested that there were only enough pilots for two squadrons, or 24 J-15 fighter jets, instead of 36 as previously suggested by state media.

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Update: Fighter Jet Fleet of China’s First Domestically-Built Carrier to Fall Short of Expectations (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: I am sure the Chinese will be correcting this shortfall very quickly.