Beijing [China], May 4: Last week, Xinhua news agency reported that the Fujian aircraft carrier was being tested at sea by the PLA. This is China 's third aircraft carrier , which currently has two aircraft carriers in service: the Liaoning and the Shandong.
Because there is no aircraft launching system, the two ships Liaoning and Shandong both have an upturned bow design to act as a ski-style aircraft launching platform. The Fujian ship will no longer have to carry this design because it is equipped with an electromagnetic launcher to launch aircraft for takeoff. This is a modern technique similar to the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier - the most modern US aircraft carrier class today. However, if all US aircraft carriers operate on nuclear power, the Fujian aircraft carrier still uses engines running on conventional fuel.
An important step forward for the PLA Navy
Responding to Thanh Nien on May 3, Mr. Carl O. Schuster (former Director of the Operations Department of the Joint Intelligence Center - Pacific Command of the US Navy, is teaching at the University of Hawaii - Pacific on international relations, history) commented that this first sea trial of the Fujian aircraft carrier lasted about 3-5 days and was limited to testing technical and dynamic systems and equipment. thruster... Perhaps, the second round of testing will begin in mid-June. Only then will observers have more assessments.
"The Fujian's sea trials send a strong statement about China's future naval power. Although it is still about 10-14 months away from entering service, the Fujian demonstrates a An important step forward in the PLA Navy's aircraft carrier program ," former Colonel Schuster further assessed.
Further, he analyzed: "Once fully operational, the number of aircraft carried by the Fujian ship will be more than any aircraft carrier in both European and Asian countries. Electric aircraft launching system (EMALS) will allow it to launch tankers and airborne early warning aircraft (AEW-CS) as well as the latest electronic warfare aircraft. The tankers will provide air forces Troops have the option of having a longer attack range or carrying more electronic jamming devices and explosives. More importantly, the AEW-CS aircraft equipped on the Fujian will give the aircraft carrier the ability to control superior air warfare capabilities, including better surface surveillance support for accompanying surface warships."
"Not stopping there, experience from the Fujian can help the PLA develop the next generation aircraft carrier, the larger Type 004, which is expected to be comparable to US aircraft carriers. Until then , Fujian and other PLA aircraft carriers will only have limited deployments beyond China's "near seas."
They will be used as part of China's operations to increase military pressure in the country East Sea and Taiwan Strait," Mr. Schuster further assessed.
Increasing military pressure in the area
Also responding to Thanh Nien , Dr. Satoru Nagao (Hudson Research Institute, USA) said that there are 3 things to notice when the PLA navy begins testing the Fujian aircraft carrier at sea.
First, China will possess real aircraft carrier capabilities. For a long time, China did not possess real aircraft carrier capabilities. Although China chose a 30-ton fighter as a fighter for its aircraft carrier, the two aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong do not have launch systems. To reduce weight, these fighters cannot carry enough fuel and missiles for military operations. This means that the current two aircraft carriers do not really have operational significance. But with the Fujian ship, there is a launch system. If this catapult is capable of pushing 30-ton fighter jets into the air, the Fujian will be the PLA's first aircraft carrier truly capable of combat.
Second, even though the Fujian will be the PLA's first fully operational aircraft carrier, its displacement is only 80,000 tons, much smaller than US aircraft carriers (which have a displacement of more than 100,000 tons). ton). And the United States has 11 aircraft carriers, each of which is combined into a battle group that includes both surface and submarine warships, with anti-aircraft and anti-submarine capabilities and nuclear submarines. In addition, the US has a lot of experience operating aircraft carriers. Thus, China's aircraft carrier capacity is still far behind America's.
Third, although not comparable to the US, the Fujian aircraft carrier can create a great influence in the Indo-Pacific. The number of fighter aircraft on the Fujian aircraft carrier can completely exceed the air forces of many countries in the region. Thus, if China deploys Fujian ships in the East Sea, the South Pacific or the Indian Ocean, it can increase military pressure in these areas.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper