News Forum - China’s aircraft carriers: A threat or propaganda showpiece?

[Thaiger]

While China’s recent military drills with its Shandong aircraft carrier showcased its modernizing forces, experts believe it could take over a decade for China to pose a credible carrier threat far from its shores. Military attaches and defence analysts question the value of China’s carriers in a potential conflict with the US over Taiwan or …

The story China’s aircraft carriers: A threat or propaganda showpiece? as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Rookiescot]

Still 20 years behind what the US has. As are the aircraft that will fly off it.

[palooka]

3 hours ago, Rookiescot said:

Still 20 years behind what the US has. As are the aircraft that will fly off it.

Been a few articles about China poaching foreign pilots to teach them how to take off and land on carriers.

Guess a decade or so would be close to the mark, not something you learn overnight.

[Rookiescot]

18 minutes ago, palooka said:

Been a few articles about China poaching foreign pilots to teach them how to take off and land on carriers.

Guess a decade or so would be close to the mark, not something you learn overnight.

Taking off is the easy bit.

[Grumpish]

If the quality control is up to the usual Chinese standard it will never  be out of dry dock long enough to pose any kind of threat.

[EdwardV]

Threat or propaganda? A little of both. The Shandong and Liaoning aren't much to speak of, but the third carrier the Fujian is a real supercarrier. The Liaoning is nothing more than a training carrier, while the Shandong isn't much better. Neither have the offensive firepower of a US Wasp class LHD which really says a lot. Not much is really known about the Fujian yet as it's just been floated and will take another year or two to fit out (let alone 4-5 years of sea trials). Even less is known about the Type 004 which is being built. It's rumored the plan of a 5th and 6th carrier has been cancelled. Although to be fair, it might just be a long postponement as it's going to take at least a decade, probably more like two, to build an effective fighting force. There is a giant learning curve between the Shandong and the Fujian.

That said, the threat isn't to the US Navy, but to the nations of SE Asia (and more specifically to India).