Comments on: China to buy 50 Su-33s for aircraft carrier http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/ Korea... in Blog Format Wed, 9 Jul 2008 16:19:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: railwaycharm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-54155 railwaycharm Tue, 31 Oct 2006 08:20:03 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-54155 Jing, you need a lot of spares as Russian aircraft are notorious for failure. They build them cheaply and they build a lot of them. Jing, you need a lot of spares as Russian aircraft are notorious for failure. They build them cheaply and they build a lot of them.

]]> By: China purchases Russian fighters at Asia-Watch http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53942 China purchases Russian fighters at Asia-Watch Sat, 28 Oct 2006 01:30:05 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53942 [...] If you read the Marmot, you probably heard that China will be purchasing a fleet of Russian SU-33 fighter planes for use on it’s aircraft carriers. While my Russian friend describes it as if “I took my obsolete computer junk, and built my parents a computer twice as good as the ones they were using,” it still gives the Chinese military a boost. He also provided me with this promotional video link, which features the SU-33 performing a variety of air maneuvers to rockin’ music (maybe it convinced the Chinese to make their purchase?). [...] [...] If you read the Marmot, you probably heard that China will be purchasing a fleet of Russian SU-33 fighter planes for use on it’s aircraft carriers. While my Russian friend describes it as if “I took my obsolete computer junk, and built my parents a computer twice as good as the ones they were using,” it still gives the Chinese military a boost. He also provided me with this promotional video link, which features the SU-33 performing a variety of air maneuvers to rockin’ music (maybe it convinced the Chinese to make their purchase?). [...]

]]> By: sunbin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53941 sunbin Sat, 28 Oct 2006 01:28:18 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53941 i think PLAN has no plan for carrier for at least the next few years. (though they may be developing aspects of capabilities) the varyag was purchased for theme park/casino. in fact, the (kiev?) in shenshen as a theme park went bankrupt and auctioned for a low price. i think PLAN has no plan for carrier for at least the next few years. (though they may be developing aspects of capabilities)

the varyag was purchased for theme park/casino.
in fact, the (kiev?) in shenshen as a theme park went bankrupt and auctioned for a low price.

]]> By: Origami http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53933 Origami Fri, 27 Oct 2006 22:22:44 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53933 More about the Chinese Military here: http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/showthread.php?t=264&page=36 More about the Chinese Military here:

http://www.sinodefenceforum.co.....mp;page=36

]]> By: Origami http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53932 Origami Fri, 27 Oct 2006 22:21:47 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53932 I always thought Korea is fully capable of developing a Carrier of their own if they increased their military budget. It would be fun to see a Carrier named Inchon running around sea lanes making the Norks a bit nervous. I always thought Korea is fully capable of developing a Carrier of their own if they increased their military budget. It would be fun to see a Carrier named Inchon running around sea lanes making the Norks a bit nervous.

]]> By: bluejives http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53926 bluejives Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:04:12 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53926 I suspect that there is much debate and controversy within the Chinese Naval establishment about the viability and consequences of the PLAN wielding aircraft carriers. There may be some who want carriers simply because it is a prestige item and a benchmark of a navy having achieved a true blue-water capability. There are others who question the strategic value and pay-off of possessing carriers. Carriers are expensive to acquire and maintain. Carriers dont just cruise around in isolation, you need a flotilla of supporting guided-missile destroyers, frigates, and diesel attack submarines to create a "bubble" surrounding the carrier, otherwise it's just a ripe target. That's quite expensive. Carriers are mostly used to project air power in far-flung combat zones. The current official PLAN doctrine is focused mostly on developing an asymetric capability based upon building a strong submarine fleet to counter US Navy battle groups and sinking US carriers using cost-effective torpedoes and cruise missiles, in the event of a Taiwan conflict. Finally, you need at least two or three carriers at any given time per battle group, because of the maintenance rotational cycle. Is it really worth all the expense and trouble when the funds could be more effectively invested in Kilo-class submarines? With this new <i>Varyag</i> development, I think the Chinese are hedging their bets. They havent fully committed themselves to acquiring carrier battle groups yet, but maybe sometime in the indeterminate future, they might. In the meantime, they will utilize the Varyag and the Su-33s for training purposes and to acquire experience in operating a carrier. I suspect that there is much debate and controversy within the Chinese Naval establishment about the viability and consequences of the PLAN wielding aircraft carriers. There may be some who want carriers simply because it is a prestige item and a benchmark of a navy having achieved a true blue-water capability. There are others who question the strategic value and pay-off of possessing carriers. Carriers are expensive to acquire and maintain. Carriers dont just cruise around in isolation, you need a flotilla of supporting guided-missile destroyers, frigates, and diesel attack submarines to create a “bubble” surrounding the carrier, otherwise it’s just a ripe target. That’s quite expensive. Carriers are mostly used to project air power in far-flung combat zones. The current official PLAN doctrine is focused mostly on developing an asymetric capability based upon building a strong submarine fleet to counter US Navy battle groups and sinking US carriers using cost-effective torpedoes and cruise missiles, in the event of a Taiwan conflict. Finally, you need at least two or three carriers at any given time per battle group, because of the maintenance rotational cycle. Is it really worth all the expense and trouble when the funds could be more effectively invested in Kilo-class submarines?

With this new Varyag development, I think the Chinese are hedging their bets. They havent fully committed themselves to acquiring carrier battle groups yet, but maybe sometime in the indeterminate future, they might. In the meantime, they will utilize the Varyag and the Su-33s for training purposes and to acquire experience in operating a carrier.

]]> By: Jing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53924 Jing Fri, 27 Oct 2006 17:24:13 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53924 The original text of the deal stipulated that there would only be 2 Su-33's purchased by the end of this year, with an option for another 12, and then 34 more. The deal could "possibly" total to 48 aircraft which would provide an airwing + attrition spares for the Varyag. The likely variant will be the Su-33UB(Su-27KUB) twin seat tandem trainer/strike variant. The Varyag may or may not enter service with the PLAN by 2008. No one is certain, beyond the PLAN that is, of the extent of maintenance that has been done on the Varyag. Earlier photographs from this year showed a zinc chromate primer on the flight deck which means that it is being primed for painting but beyond surface maintenance, no one has a clue of the internals. It is possible however to judge readiness of the Varyag based on how high the ship is above the waterline. The original text of the deal stipulated that there would only be 2 Su-33’s purchased by the end of this year, with an option for another 12, and then 34 more. The deal could “possibly” total to 48 aircraft which would provide an airwing + attrition spares for the Varyag. The likely variant will be the Su-33UB(Su-27KUB) twin seat tandem trainer/strike variant.

The Varyag may or may not enter service with the PLAN by 2008. No one is certain, beyond the PLAN that is, of the extent of maintenance that has been done on the Varyag. Earlier photographs from this year showed a zinc chromate primer on the flight deck which means that it is being primed for painting but beyond surface maintenance, no one has a clue of the internals. It is possible however to judge readiness of the Varyag based on how high the ship is above the waterline.

]]> By: Mingi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53898 Mingi Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:43:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53898 For anyone interested in China's pursuit of aircraft carriers, here's a link to an interesting essay published in the Naval War College Review: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JIW/is_1_57/ai_113755343 For anyone interested in China’s pursuit of aircraft carriers, here’s a link to an interesting essay published in the Naval War College Review:

http://findarticles.com/p/arti....._113755343

]]> By: Arghaeri http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53882 Arghaeri Fri, 27 Oct 2006 13:13:39 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53882 "The Chinese SU-33s will be equipped with operational security equipment known as keys that wil prevent their theft by drunken GIs R&Ring...." Shame they didn't have that on the korean bus taken the other day............ “The Chinese SU-33s will be equipped with operational security equipment known as keys that wil prevent their theft by drunken GIs R&Ring….”

Shame they didn’t have that on the korean bus taken the other day…………

]]> By: dlatn http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53865 dlatn Fri, 27 Oct 2006 12:15:24 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/27/china-to-buy-50-su-33s-for-aircraft-carrier/#comment-53865 The Chinese SU-33s will be equipped with operational security equipment known as keys that wil prevent their theft by drunken GIs R&Ring in Chinese ports that are to hammered to climb on the roof of a taxi to get home The Chinese SU-33s will be equipped with operational security equipment known as keys that wil prevent their theft by drunken GIs R&Ring in Chinese ports that are to hammered to climb on the roof of a taxi to get home

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