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BEIJING — China's first aircraft carrier is now ready to engage in combat, marking a milestone for a navy that has invested heavily in its ability to project power far from China's shores.
The Liaoning's political commissar said in an interview with Tuesday's Global Times newspaper that his ship is "constantly prepared to fight against enemies," signaling a change from its past status as a platform for testing and training.
Senior Captain Li Dongyou's comments appear to indicate that the ship has taken on its full aviation complement. Purchased as an incomplete hull from Ukraine more than a decade ago, it was commissioned in 2013.
China hasn't described specifically how it intends to use the Liaoning, but it is seen as helping reinforce China's increasingly assertive claims in the South China Sea in the face of challenges from the U.S. Navy and others.
The Liaoning is also seen as a training platform for officers and sailors who will serve on China's rapidly expanding fleet. China is currently building its second, fully "homegrown" aircraft carrier.
Li said the Liaoning's combat capabilities still lag behind U.S. carriers, but its training and maintenance operations have been praised by senior Pentagon officials who have visited during military exchanges.
More than 1,000 non-commissioned officers serve aboard the Liaoning, Li said.
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The Liaoning's political commissar said in an interview with Tuesday's Global Times newspaper that his ship is "constantly prepared to fight against enemies," signaling a change from its past status as a platform for testing and training.
Senior Captain Li Dongyou's comments appear to indicate that the ship has taken on its full aviation complement. Purchased as an incomplete hull from Ukraine more than a decade ago, it was commissioned in 2013.
China hasn't described specifically how it intends to use the Liaoning, but it is seen as helping reinforce China's increasingly assertive claims in the South China Sea in the face of challenges from the U.S. Navy and others.
The Liaoning is also seen as a training platform for officers and sailors who will serve on China's rapidly expanding fleet. China is currently building its second, fully "homegrown" aircraft carrier.
Li said the Liaoning's combat capabilities still lag behind U.S. carriers, but its training and maintenance operations have been praised by senior Pentagon officials who have visited during military exchanges.
More than 1,000 non-commissioned officers serve aboard the Liaoning, Li said.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see)
China Says Aircraft Carrier Now Ready for Combat
Posted from military.com
China
Equipment
Technology
Posted >1 y ago
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Rofl sure. If by combat they mean 'planes can only take off with basic fuel loads, and no weaponry', then sure, it's ready.
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Trailer for the 1959 film "The Mouse that Roared" starring Peter Sellers and Jean Seberg.
It is interesting that China's political commissar Senior Captain Li Dongyou said that his ship the Liaoning aircraft carrier is "constantly prepared to fight against enemies," signaling a change from its past status as a platform for testing and training SP5 Mark Kuzinski.
I wonder if China will declare a small war to prove that the Liaoning aircraft carrier is worthy.
This reminds me of Peter Sellers "The Mouse That Roared." In that case a small nation was having problems after WWII and reasoned that if they lost to a super power they would be built back after they surrendered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7L7WLFBYR4
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I wonder if China will declare a small war to prove that the Liaoning aircraft carrier is worthy.
This reminds me of Peter Sellers "The Mouse That Roared." In that case a small nation was having problems after WWII and reasoned that if they lost to a super power they would be built back after they surrendered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7L7WLFBYR4
LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Forrest Stewart SGT Robert Hawks SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright
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SSgt Robert Marx
Great analogy for the combat power of China's "fleet in being." You know the resources that Germany spent on its "High Seas Fleet" under Kaiser Wilhelm II, quickly building battleships until the HMS Dreadnaught changed the relative power for each ship and so the krauts had roughly half the number of Dreadnaught class as the Royal Navy during the Great War. While they engaged in several hit & run skirmishes plus surface raiders but they never came close to redeeming the amount of money they had spent. The Chinese are seemingly doing great building hulls but they lack in heavy cruisers and have no nuclear aircraft carriers. The Liaoning is closer to the American amphibious assault carriers such as the USS Wasp than to a USS Nimitz class carrier. Currently, the Chinese own a "fleet in being"- good for intimidation and action against less armed states but toast to serious navies with projection power.
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All one of them......! That's right they have those permanent Aircraft Carriers in the South China sea.....I mean islands...!
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