China is building its first indigenous aircraft carrier

The speculation is finally over: A closer look at the CV-17 or Type 001A.

First noticed by Jane’s in late February 2015 and reported by Sean O’Connor in detail on 27 September 2015,  #GEOINT suggests that this “is almost without a doubt the bones of thePLAN’s first domestically-built carrier ” says @samlagrone via @USNINews

At a monthly press briefing  Senior Colonel Yang Yujun, spokesman for China’s MND said “China is designing and building its second carrier “completely on its own” ”.

This is hardly a surprising announcement. Analysts have been using open-source intelligence reports and images posted on Chinese social media to come to the conclusion that the hull of a very large ship in the port city of Dalian was, in fact, that of China’s second aircraft carrier.
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Further, The Pentagon’s annual report to Congress “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2015”, clearly states that “China also continues to pursue an indigenous aircraft carrier program and could build multiple aircraft carriers over the next 15 years.”

IMAGE SOURCE: SINA

Considering the amount of coverage given to the subject by Chinese social media and other Chinese web sites, it is safe to conclude that the government is not trying to hide their plans.  The pro-government @globaltimesnews has enthusiastically referred to this project inJanuary 2014 and again in February 2015 .

Zhang Junshe, a researcher with the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Naval Military Studies Research Institute told Xinhua, the state-run newspaper, “construction of China’s second aircraft carrier is normal and the scale of China’s aircraft carrier development is much smaller than that of the United States and even India.”
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Zhang further clarified that “future Chinese carriers will be fitted with catapults for fighter jets to take off on deck, but the process will be gradual since catapult take-off involves more complex technology.”

Type 001A is a conventional powered carrier with a displacement of 50,000 tonnes and will deploy a ski jump for take-off. The carrier is under construction in Dalian and “will be a base for J-15 fighters”. The Shenyang J-15 also known as Flying Shark , is a carrier-based multirole fighter jointly developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and the 601 Institute. The J-15 is the only aircraft which is capable of taking off from this carrier.

IMAGE SOURCE : SINA . J-15 APPROACHING CV 16 LIAONING .

Challenges face by Type 001A

1. China lacks the experience in designing and building large military vessels the size of a carrier or amphibious assault ship 


2. China does not have the requisite expertise for designing and building propulsion systems for such large vessels. Additionally, China does not have the technology to build nuclear-powered carriers. “Li Jie , a military expert in Beijing, said China already had experience with maritime nuclear power, but so far the technology was restricted to the PLA’s growing submarine fleet.”


3. Metallurgy is a huge challenge for China and this reflects in their aviation industry as well as building hulls for such vessels.


4. For now, the ski jump for take-off is China’s only option. It took years for the U.S. Navy to perfect steam catapults. The EMALS, Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, is far from perfect.


5. Last but not least, as far as air-power is concerned:  for now PLAN only has the Shenyang J-15, which has been successful tested on aircraft carriers.


6. An excellent summary by Gabriel Collins and Lieutenant Commander Michael C. Grubb, in their study for the U.S. Naval War College entitled “A Comprehensive Survey of China’s Dynamic Shipbuilding Industry”: “The production of [ultralarge crude oil carriers] demonstrates the ability of Chinese shipyards to build hulls of aircraft-carrier size and strength, but their ability to integrate the complex matrix of aircraft, catapults, arresting gear, weapons systems, and large propulsion plants required for an operational aircraft carrier remains in doubt.”

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Suggested reading:

The Pentagon’s annual report to Congress “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2015
A Comprehensive Survey of China’s Dynamic Shipbuilding Industry by Gabriel Collins and Lieutenant Commander Michael C. Grubb, via @NavalWarCollege