"Chinese carriers will not be able to affect the supremacy of American aircraft carriers. Our global projection capacity will remain unchanged". This is the evaluation of Defense Intelligence Agency of the Pentagon.
"The aircraft carriers they are building will not have the same capabilities as ours. Tactically their role will be different from our carriers. They are probably designed to operate in the South China Sea, not for projection missions around the globe."
We know that the work on the second aircraft carrier by the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, started in January last year. The subsequent satellite images showed activities in the Dailian construction site and the laying of enormous support blocks in the dry dock used for mounting the keel. Subsequent analyzes confirmed the construction of a hull. Almost a year ago, it was estimated that the vector was long from 150 to 170 meters and wide about 30. The images taken of the 22 last September have given greater awareness in the dimensions of the new boat. At that juncture the satellites also resumed a new section of stern and an elongated hull. Estimates brought the dimensions to 240 meters in length and 35 in width. Measurements retouched to 270 meters in length.
The only Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, entered service in the 2012. It is the second vector of the class Admiral Kuznetsov which dates back to the Soviet era. China bought the aircraft carrier from 60.000 tons from Ukraine in the 1998. Liaoning which, over the years, has been totally revised and modernized even though it is not yet considered fully operational (target within the 2020). In fact, we know that the Chinese are also building a third aircraft carrier in the Shanghai area.
Add from Defense Intelligence Agency. "Liaoning is about half of our Nimitz class. Their embarked group launch system is absolutely not comparable to ours, which is why until they have developed steam or electromagnetic catapults, they will remain inferior to our carriers".
The Pentagon, however, ignores the real Chinese global expansion plan.
