China may not yet have decided the balance of aircraft, guns and missiles on the second carrier. If China adheres to Russian practices there will be a high proportion of guns and missiles and smaller than Western aircraft compliment.
China's second carrier is likely to have much in common with Liaoning (above) . The second carrier may carry more aircraft and fewer guns and missiles than the Liaoning.
After years of rebuilding Liaoning in the 2000s Liaoning began sea trials in 2011. It was commissioned as a testbed in 2012 and also began air launch and recovery trial in 2012 of the J-15 and helicopter takeoffs with assistance from the Brazilian naval air arm.
But China does not yet have a fleet of aircraft or pilots ready for carrier operations. So the Liaoning is being used to test and train them, a task that experts say will probably take several years. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35207369
But China does not yet have a fleet of aircraft or pilots ready for carrier operations. So the Liaoning is being used to test and train them, a task that experts say will probably take several years. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35207369
Unusual for a carrier Liaoning has wide range of missile and gun systems that are not present on Western aircraft carriers. This includes 12 large 7 tonne P-700 Granit SSMs, 3 x HHQ-10 (FL-3000N) 18 cell SAM systems (above left) and 3 x Type 1030 [Phalanx like] Close in Weapons Systems (above left). The second carrier may well have fewer missiles/guns but more fixed wing aircraft.
Testing J-15 takeoffs and landings on the Liaoning.
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The second carrier is likely to have more jets and helicopters than the 36 on the Liaoning. China is testing the J-15 fighter-bomber on the Liaoning (photo above). The J-15, likely to be used in the second carrier, is considered a derivative of the Russian Su-33 carrier fighter. The 4th generation J-15 has been compared to the Super Hornet though the J-15 suffers from the drawbacks of ski-jump launch (lower all up weight, lower fuel load, shorter range) and lack of Chinese carrier based refueling no “buddy” refuelling capabilities are believed to greatly reduce its effective range.
The J-15 itself could be considered only in the development stage. J-15s were only introduced in 2013, with only 21 built so far.
The J-15 itself could be considered only in the development stage. J-15s were only introduced in 2013, with only 21 built so far.
Pete