On August 14, Chinas first aircraft carrier, the Varyag, finished its five-day maiden sea trial and returned to Dalian.
On August 10 China started the low-key trials although there have been great concerns among its neighbors about its increasing military strength. But it is maintained by Chinas National Defense department that the carrier is intended for aim of research and training. Further details of the sea trials have not been released up to now. Experts told the CCTV reporters that the ships exercise was the second important step toward becoming fully operational. The carrier will then be tested further as far as the operational system is concerned including engines, aviation and navigation equipment, electronics, fire-control, life-saving and maintenance operations etc. A CCTV report has it that once the second phase is finished, the carrier will then face its final stage. That is its take-off and landing capabilities will be tested. It may take several years for the carrier to become fully operational. For a long time, it is an open secret that China has been building its own aircraft carrier project. China has spent the better part of a decade refurbishing the vessel after it was towed from Ukraine in 1998, minus its engines, weaponry and navigation systems. According to CCTV, the Varyag will help to make a training environment for Chinese naval forces and help the country build aircraft carriers in the future. The remodeled aircraft looks as a Brezhnev class carrier whose major function is to serves as a platform for up to 67 fixed-wing aircraft. There are also anti-ship cruise missiles and Gauntlet surface-to-air missiles equipped on the carrier.
Its held the carrier will adopt Chinas high-scientific J-15 fighters and Ka-28 and 31 multi-role ship-borne helicopters. It does not fully meet Chinas naval requirements. However, the refitting of this carrier is one important step toward Chinas goal. Meanwhile some international experts also point out that the function of the carrier can not be overestimated. For example, Ruslan Pukhov, president of the Moscow Strategy and Technologies Analysis Center, believes that a single aircraft carrier can not alter the power balance in the world. He also maintains that the meaning of the carrier goes beyond the military aspects. It is a matter of both national pride and security, Pukhov says, adding that the aircraft carrier shows that the Chinese Navy has been developing. As the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that had no such warship, China has long sought an aircraft carrier to help to guarantee the national pride and security.
On August 10 China started the low-key trials although there have been great concerns among its neighbors about its increasing military strength. But it is maintained by Chinas National Defense department that the carrier is intended for aim of research and training. Further details of the sea trials have not been released up to now. Experts told the CCTV reporters that the ships exercise was the second important step toward becoming fully operational. The carrier will then be tested further as far as the operational system is concerned including engines, aviation and navigation equipment, electronics, fire-control, life-saving and maintenance operations etc. A CCTV report has it that once the second phase is finished, the carrier will then face its final stage. That is its take-off and landing capabilities will be tested. It may take several years for the carrier to become fully operational. For a long time, it is an open secret that China has been building its own aircraft carrier project. China has spent the better part of a decade refurbishing the vessel after it was towed from Ukraine in 1998, minus its engines, weaponry and navigation systems. According to CCTV, the Varyag will help to make a training environment for Chinese naval forces and help the country build aircraft carriers in the future. The remodeled aircraft looks as a Brezhnev class carrier whose major function is to serves as a platform for up to 67 fixed-wing aircraft. There are also anti-ship cruise missiles and Gauntlet surface-to-air missiles equipped on the carrier.
Its held the carrier will adopt Chinas high-scientific J-15 fighters and Ka-28 and 31 multi-role ship-borne helicopters. It does not fully meet Chinas naval requirements. However, the refitting of this carrier is one important step toward Chinas goal. Meanwhile some international experts also point out that the function of the carrier can not be overestimated. For example, Ruslan Pukhov, president of the Moscow Strategy and Technologies Analysis Center, believes that a single aircraft carrier can not alter the power balance in the world. He also maintains that the meaning of the carrier goes beyond the military aspects. It is a matter of both national pride and security, Pukhov says, adding that the aircraft carrier shows that the Chinese Navy has been developing. As the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that had no such warship, China has long sought an aircraft carrier to help to guarantee the national pride and security.
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