Chinese state television, during a special aired on August 4, revealed that the country's only operating carrier, the Liaoning (CV-16), carried out a first patrol with eight Shenyang J-15s and two Z-18 and Z-9 helicopters.
The images shown confirm the biggest boarding ever made on the Liaoning, which made its first flight operations in November 2012. Although we cannot speak of a yet air wing complete, the images confirm the carrier's growing combat capabilities.
La Liaoning, entered service in 2012. It is the second carrier in the class Admiral Kuznetsov which dates back to the Soviet era. China purchased the 60.000-ton aircraft carrier from Ukraine in 1998. It has been totally revised and modernized even though it is not yet considered fully operational. The autonomy of Liaoning it is estimated at 45 days of sailing, equal to seven thousand kilometers at the maximum permitted speed, around 32 knots. There Liaoning it was designed to test the reliability and compatibility of indigenous systems and to train staff.
The Chinese Navy, during the special broadcast on state television, confirms the twenty Shenyang J-15 embarked fighters (based largely on the Sukhoi Su-33) and the twelve Changhe Z-18J (AEW) and Z- rotor platforms 18F (ASW).
The Pentagon considers the Liaoning still unable to carry out an armed patrol, estimating its entry into service in 2020. Beijing could halve this timing.
