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China is Upgrading Its Carrier Aviation Force at Faster Pace than US

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is working hard to expand its military technology and structure, including upgrading its carrier aviation force at a faster pace than the United States Navy is, the Real Clear Defense (RCD) reports.

CNS Fujian (CV 018), PLAN’s Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Landing (CATOBAR) aircraft carrier, has just been through a second round of critical introductory pilot-carrier crew test and will go on to flight recovery and launch operations, RCD reports. “At the current rate of progress, Fujian should achieve full operational status by this August. The PLAN will launch its as-yet-unnamed Type 004 CATOBAR carrier shortly thereafter It promises to be larger and more capable than Fujian and within 90 days of its launch, China will start construction of its fifth carrier, probably a Type 005,” Carl O. Schuster, a retired US Navy Captain and military studies expert, told RCD.

PLAN’s new prototype maritime nuclear reactor indicates that it, or the Type 006 will be nuclear-powered, RCD reports. “If the PLAN maintains its present construction-to-commissioning pace, the Type 004 should be operationally ready by 2027, and the Type 005’s sea trials will begin that same year or early in 2028. The latter could be operational by 2030. Whatever the Type 005’s propulsion system, its entry into service will give the PLAN three CATOBAR carriers in the Western Pacific before this decade’s end,” Schuster noted.

Among numerous other significant developments, PLAN is also expanding and technologically advancing its carrier air wings, RCD reports. PLAN is currently producing two catapult-launch/arrested landing capable aircraft, the KJ-600 AEW-CS and the J-15T, RCD reports.

“While the US Navy struggles to commission one carrier every 7-10 years, China has commissioned two and possibly a third in this decade. China is also commissioning nearly twice as many guided missile cruisers, destroyers, and frigates than the United States,” Schuster said.

“The PLA has come a long way over the last 30 years, studying America’s and other Western nation’s militaries throughout that period to this day. Beijing is working strenuously to address its military shortcomings, expanding its force structure, advancing its military technology, and developing a modern, joint doctrine. America’s leaders and partners ignore that progress at their countries’ peril,” Schuster added.