Satellite Spots China's First Aircraft Carrier

Hugh Pickens writes "Commercial satellite company DigitalGlobe Inc. has announced that it has an image of the People's Republic of China's first functional aircraft carrier, taken during the carrier's first sea trials in the Yellow Sea. The carrier was originally meant for the Soviet navy, but its construction was halted as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and engineers in the Ukraine disarmed it and removed its engines before selling it to China in 1998 for $20 million. The vessel, an Admiral Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier measuring 304.5 meters long, and having a displacement of 58,500 tons, has been refitted for research and training in China. The Ministry of National Defense says the steam-powered aircraft carrier has completed all refitting and testing work as scheduled after its first sea trial in mid-August, and was heading back out to sea for additional scientific research and experiments. According to Andrew S. Erickson at the US Naval War College, China's long term strategic dilemma is whether to focus on large-deck aviation or on submarines (PDF)."

Solution to US debt problem

[Grishnakh]

China's aircraft carrier sounds like pretty old tech. Our aircraft carriers are the most advanced in the world, with nuclear power and now electromagnetic launchers. At something like $5 billion apiece, they aren't cheap. Maybe we can get back some of those dollars we've sent to China by selling them a fleet of our new Reagan-class aircraft carriers.

So they've discovered flight and have oil!

[Kenja]

Time to drop the trade agreement for furs and hope they dont halve aluminum or uranium within their borders.

Re:Why don't U.S. carriers also use ski-jump?

[Anonymous Coward]

The US uses steam catapults, which are even better but are more expensive and are fairly involved to design.

Ford class carriers (2 currently under construction) will use magnetic launch rather than steam launch.

To be followed in 20 years by the Obama class which use Hope

I for one welcome

[future assassin]

our floating Chinese overlords.

Re:Solution to US debt problem

[R3d M3rcury]

That's actually what US Navy Submarines do, also--"oceanic research."

Sticker on bottom of ship...

[fahrbot-bot]

The carrier was originally meant for the Soviet navy, but its construction was halted as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and engineers in the Ukraine disarmed it and removed its engines before selling it to China in 1998 for $20 million.

... says "Not made in China".

Re:Solution to US debt problem

[NatasRevol]

You mean land locked Tibet?

Re:Solution to US debt problem

[the_humeister]

What are you talking about? Carriers have an offense of 1, a defense of 9, and 4 hit points (1/9/4)! About the only thing that has any hope of destroying one is a submarine (10/2/3) or stealth bomber (14/5/2).

Re:Why don't U.S. carriers also use ski-jump?

[NEDHead]

Ski jump technology is doomed as global warming will limit the latitudes where it can be operational

Re:Solution to US debt problem

[CaseCrash]

Phht, that's Dungeons and Dragons, a game your play with friends in your mom's basement. He was talking about Civilization, a game you play alone in your mom's basement.

Re:Solution to US debt problem

[Daimanta]

I guess countries like Spain, Italy and even Thailand are "offensive countries"? They all have aircraft carriers.

Remember the ships the Empire used in Star Wars?

That's right, Thai fighters.

Re:Why don't U.S. carriers also use ski-jump?

[Nimey]

Nimitz isn't traditional.

Traditional is naming carriers after battles (also stinging insects), not after people.

Re:Why don't U.S. carriers also use ski-jump?

[couchslug]

"To be followed in 20 years by the Obama class which use Hope"

And works indistinguishably from its predecessor....