Liaoning (Varyag) - Chinese Aircraft Carrier

Hari Sud

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In many ways Lioning is a white elephant for the Chinese as they preferred local upgrades as opposed to OEM. Other Chinese aircraft carriers are copies of Lioning, hence has multiplied Chinese problems several times over. Moreover the Chinese claim a lot but they lack an aircraft to operate, have no experience in naval warfare and aviation. Also they are afraid of the deep. That is cultural with them.

None of their A/C will travel 4000 km to Indian Ocean and be a threat to India in a forceable future.
 

smooth manifold

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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/art...how-one-man-bought-china-its-aircraft-carrier

Mission impossible: How one man bought China its first aircraft carrier



It was a mission like no other. In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, one businessman armed with cash and a casino cover story scooped the world to buy the unfinished hulk of a Ukrainian aircraft carrier that would become the centrepiece of the PLA Navy.

Speaking to the media for the first time, the Hong Kong-based businessman at the heart of the undertaking reveals in a two-part series the details of the little-known, behind-the-scenes odyssey to realise China's long-held dream of owning such a warship.

Xu Zengping disclosed that the militarily sensitive original engines of the carrier were intact when Ukraine sold the vessel in 1998. This is contrary to what Beijing told the world at the time.

The "four intact engines had been perfectly grease-sealed" after work stopped on the vessel in 1992, presenting an enticing engineering package for a country seeking a leg up for its military.


It is the first time anyone linked to the deal has confirmed publicly the engines were in place at the time of purchase. Earlier reports said the vessel's power generation system was removed at Ukraine's Nikolayev South Shipyard on the Black Sea along with its electronics and weaponry before Xu bought it in 1998 for US$20 million.

"When I was taken to the carrier's engine room by the shipyard's chief engineer, I found all four engines were brand new and carefully grease-sealed, each of them originally costing US$20 million," Xu said. He said a refit finished in 2011 restored the four engines to operating condition.

What is now called the Liaoning was built on the hull of the partially completed Soviet Kuznetsov-class carrier, the Varyag. The Black Sea shipyard was about two-thirds of the way through the vessel's construction when work stopped as the Soviet Union crumbled. The hull languished until Xu made the deal, acting as a middleman for interests within the PLA Navy.

Xu said the shipyard agreed to sell the vessel because of the political turmoil that had left it in dire financial straits.

"The Chinese side deliberately released false information about the removal of the engines to make it easier for Xu and the shipyard to negotiate," a source familiar with the deal told the South China Morning Post.

Western media also reported that the United States pressured Ukraine to remove everything on board the carrier, selling only the hull to the Chinese buyer, the source added.

A retired PLA Navy colonel said it was "very likely" that the Liaoning was still using the original Ukrainian engines. "The Ukrainian engine technology is better than China's," the retired officer said. "It's my understanding that our navy later sought help from Ukraine to get the carrier engines, which had been sealed up for years, up and running."

Buying the carrier was just the start. It took another four years to tow it from Ukraine to Dalian in Liaoning province, and more than a decade to fit it out.

Macau-based military observer Antony Wong Dong said that after years of negotiations, the Black Sea shipyard also transferred their engine technology to China's Harbin Turbine Company, a manufacturing plant specialising in military boilers, turbines and steam equipment.

There were signs that the engines had been improved.

"The original propulsion system designed for the Liaoning was the same as that of the Russian Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier with a top speed of 32 knots. But the Liaoning is 6,000 tonnes heavier, so logically it would be slower," Wong said. "But recent sea trials showed the Liaoning's top speed was as fast as 32 knots, indicating its propulsion system has been upgraded."

The carrier was renamed Liaoning when it was formally delivered to the PLA in September 2012 and so far has been used only for training.

Its pennant number - a type of naval identification - is 16. "Do you know why the Liaoning has been numbered 16?" Xu asked. "It was because we spent 16 years getting the job done, from making the deal to rebuilding it."
 
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skywatcher

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https://www.scmp.com/news/china/art...how-one-man-bought-china-its-aircraft-carrier

Mission impossible: How one man bought China its first aircraft carrier



It was a mission like no other. In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, one businessman armed with cash and a casino cover story scooped the world to buy the unfinished hulk of a Ukrainian aircraft carrier that would become the centrepiece of the PLA Navy.

Speaking to the media for the first time, the Hong Kong-based businessman at the heart of the undertaking reveals in a two-part series the details of the little-known, behind-the-scenes odyssey to realise China's long-held dream of owning such a warship.

Xu Zengping disclosed that the militarily sensitive original engines of the carrier were intact when Ukraine sold the vessel in 1998. This is contrary to what Beijing told the world at the time.

The "four intact engines had been perfectly grease-sealed" after work stopped on the vessel in 1992, presenting an enticing engineering package for a country seeking a leg up for its military.


It is the first time anyone linked to the deal has confirmed publicly the engines were in place at the time of purchase. Earlier reports said the vessel's power generation system was removed at Ukraine's Nikolayev South Shipyard on the Black Sea along with its electronics and weaponry before Xu bought it in 1998 for US$20 million.

"When I was taken to the carrier's engine room by the shipyard's chief engineer, I found all four engines were brand new and carefully grease-sealed, each of them originally costing US$20 million," Xu said. He said a refit finished in 2011 restored the four engines to operating condition.

What is now called the Liaoning was built on the hull of the partially completed Soviet Kuznetsov-class carrier, the Varyag. The Black Sea shipyard was about two-thirds of the way through the vessel's construction when work stopped as the Soviet Union crumbled. The hull languished until Xu made the deal, acting as a middleman for interests within the PLA Navy.

Xu said the shipyard agreed to sell the vessel because of the political turmoil that had left it in dire financial straits.

"The Chinese side deliberately released false information about the removal of the engines to make it easier for Xu and the shipyard to negotiate," a source familiar with the deal told the South China Morning Post.

Western media also reported that the United States pressured Ukraine to remove everything on board the carrier, selling only the hull to the Chinese buyer, the source added.

A retired PLA Navy colonel said it was "very likely" that the Liaoning was still using the original Ukrainian engines. "The Ukrainian engine technology is better than China's," the retired officer said. "It's my understanding that our navy later sought help from Ukraine to get the carrier engines, which had been sealed up for years, up and running."

Buying the carrier was just the start. It took another four years to tow it from Ukraine to Dalian in Liaoning province, and more than a decade to fit it out.

Macau-based military observer Antony Wong Dong said that after years of negotiations, the Black Sea shipyard also transferred their engine technology to China's Harbin Turbine Company, a manufacturing plant specialising in military boilers, turbines and steam equipment.

There were signs that the engines had been improved.

"The original propulsion system designed for the Liaoning was the same as that of the Russian Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier with a top speed of 32 knots. But the Liaoning is 6,000 tonnes heavier, so logically it would be slower," Wong said. "But recent sea trials showed the Liaoning's top speed was as fast as 32 knots, indicating its propulsion system has been upgraded."

The carrier was renamed Liaoning when it was formally delivered to the PLA in September 2012 and so far has been used only for training.

Its pennant number - a type of naval identification - is 16. "Do you know why the Liaoning has been numbered 16?" Xu asked. "It was because we spent 16 years getting the job done, from making the deal to rebuilding it."
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Hari Sud

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It is the worst Chinese purchase of an A/c carrier ever. It came very, very cheap with a pot full of problems. Chinese had no experience to upgrade it hence began doing it anyway. Hence they decided to use it for local intimidation. They also used it to copy technology which was their worst decision. All the defects were transferred into the newer design. Hence instead of being a power on high seas, these have become coastal defence large vessel. These vessels rarely go beyond 200 miles of the Chinese coast, hence travelling to Indian Ocean via Straits of Malacca is an uphill task.

Now the Chinese wish that they had not purchased the defunct Russian A/C, worst they should not have copied it at all. This issue cannot be rectified easily. Moreover inexperienced Chinese crew make it an easy target to sink, hence it will not beyond South China Sea.
 

SexyChineseLady

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It operates in seas full of powerful foreign ships -- including American Arleigh Burke destroyers :)
 

Sarjen

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@SexyChineseLady So what's your take on UK Carrier in SCS, Today German Ships are coming.... in few weeks French ships will arive
 

SexyChineseLady

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@SexyChineseLady So what's your take on UK Carrier in SCS, Today German Ships are coming.... in few weeks French ships will arive
Yes, all of Europe will be coming! China Seas are very important :)

It means China will have to continue building a lot of aircraft carriers, LHDs, LPDs, cruisers, destroyers, SSNs, SSKs and frigates for a long, long time! This actually makes many of us very happy :)
 

rockdog

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Yes, all of Europe will be coming! China Seas are very important :)

It means China will have to continue building a lot of aircraft carriers, LHDs, LPDs, cruisers, destroyers, SSNs, SSKs and frigates for a long, long time! This actually makes many of us very happy :)
I think those islands will continue to grow since coral reefs are booming now. Mother nature is so generous ...
 

SexyChineseLady

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Both Liaoning and Shandong are preparing many many pilots for up to 10 super carriers in the coming years!



Naval Aviation Academy recruits every year directly from high school!
 

SexyChineseLady

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Building the training infrastructure and cirriculum for the world's second largest carrier aviation sector from the ground up! First launch from the Liaoning only in 2012 -- less than one decade ago!

High school ( and Youth Aviation classes) to National Naval Aviation Academy to Liaoning/Shandong to Main Fleet Carriers (Type 003 and up.)

This will go on for many decades until fleet is builtupnand beyond!

 

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