Possible Chinese Navy AWACS

It appears that Chinese military planning for a naval air wing may be more advanced than previously thought. An Internet-sourced photograph that appeared in mid-May, most likely from a Chinese popular military magazine, shows a corner of a model of what is clearly a small AWACS aircraft inspired by the E-2 Hawkeye and the unrealised Soviet Yak-44 designs.

Powered by turboprop engines with six-bladed props, it features a large radome and colling intake, which is similar to US and Russian designs. In the mid-1990s, US Naval Intelligence predicted that Chengdu would produce a twin-engined version of its J-10 multi-role fighter for a future conventional take-off and landing carrier.

Its in commonly accepted that China's Military is actively researching aircraft carriers but not yet building them. Renewed interest in their movement of the old, incomplete Russian carrier Varyag, berthed in Dalian since early 2002, into a dry dock. In 2003 students from a technical university long linked to the chinese mility produced a model of a Varyag-like carrier armed with SAMs and SSMs, which have now been seen on a new Chinese Navy Aegis-like destroyer.

Rick Fisher
Airforces Monthly

Greetings,

From the looks of it, the chinese are standing up their Naval Air Arm in training so that they are ready for the transfer once their fleet/carriers are operational. To say the least, the Chinese are serious about their future naval air arm.

It should also be noted that part of a naval blockade of Taiwan would include complete coverage of the island by AWACs aircraft.

- Phil

P.S I thought I would post some pictures of the Yak-44 just so that you get the idea.





legion.wplus.net...

[edit on 14-6-2005 by gooseuk]

Have they actually built them or are they just in the model/research stage?
Also how big(tonnage) is the Varyag russian aircraft carrier.

Greetings,

Westpoint, to be honest, from all accounts, and a few converstions with some mates, I would have to say that this aircraft is at the Prototype/Research Stage. It would also fit with some troop transfers of PLAAF to the PLAN, at the time [About 6 months ago] it seemed rather odd, as there was no reason why PLAAF pilots would be transfering to the PLAN as the PLAAF dealt with the Maritime patrol services. This could neatly explain the odd interservice transfers.

As for the Varyag, I would put it between 70,000 and 80,000 tons, most sites listing within that region, the most common is 70,500. It should be noted that those are for the dead weight, aka not fully loaded, armed or carrying their air wing.

I would just like to say one thing, West point, I am assuming that you are asking for the weight to see if it will be a match for the current crop of US carriers, well I will be nice and honest, the answer is no, in a fair fight it wouldn't have a chance out in open water but like I say time and time again the Enemy rarely fights fair.

These carriers with never be outside of PLAAF mainland aircover, and rarely out of the chinese mainlands shadow, that means that whether the US sends 1 or 3 carrier groups, there will be losses.

Back on Topic, this aircraft would also appear that the Chinese seem to be modeling their Blue Water Navy, more and more in the line of American and British CBFs

- Phil

China is working on a blue water navy but currently we are no more than brown water. We might achieve blue water power projection in 20 years but definitely not now. The latest pictures show that the Varyag is in refit and has been moved into a drydock last month, there are numerous equipment on the flightdeck and it seems to be getting a complete military refit. No Varyag is not a competitor with Nimitz class CVNs. It carries less planes but however Russian CVNs have extensive onboard weapons therefore it can rely more on it self than fleet escorts.

Very Correct Cowlan,

But none the less, it shows that they are developing toward those goals, the varyag was designed to a different spec and role compared to the US carriers.

I was also wondering if you could post some pictures of the Varyag currently in its new dry dock, I have yet to see the more up to date images.

Thanks
- Phil

Yup you know me all to well, I was doing some research on the Varyag and yup most sites do place it between 70,000-80,000 tonnage displacement.
Here is s photo of the Varyag.

one v.large picture of the Varyag

www.nwc.navy.mil...

It will be interesting to see how well the PLAN does if it manages to build a carrier or complete the Varyag. The interest in building a naval AWACs shows that China is really serious about getting a true blue water navy.

Originally posted by chinawhite
one v.large picture of the Varyag

www.nwc.navy.mil...

What an ugly, ugly ship - geez, and some people believe China actually poses a threat... Well I just hope they keep playing with redundant russion hardware!

[edit on 15-6-2005 by KiwiDave]

Yeah, don't worry about us Chinese, after all we are a cute and loving people, who pose no threat at all to the might of the great US of A's mighty army, right?

Right

Here is the Varyag in refit, the latest pics, look to the far right and see the Varyag in the drydock and all the equipment on board.

www.wforum.com...

[edit on 15-6-2005 by COWlan]

There was a Phalcon deal with the Israelis, where the Chinese would acquire Il-76s (incorrectly reported as An-50 Mainstays), then send it to the Israelis for the Phalcon radar system to be mounted, and for more advanced avonics to be installed.

Sadly, the deal didn't go through. The Israelis eventually backed out after US pressure (blah), and China got compensation (250 million I believe) for the deal after Israel backed out. There are talks about how the Israelis eventually managed to sneak a Phalcon to the Chinese, but I won't go into that. The Chinese eventually made their own AWACs on an Il-76 airframe, it had a 3 sided radar similar to the one found only on the Phalcon. How much the Israelis helped is still unknown, but apparently a lot, more than just the avonics that most sources say.

One of these days the Israelis are going to regret this BS. Why bite that hand that feeds you?!

Originally posted by WestPoint23
One of these days the Israelis are going to regret this BS. Why bite that hand that feeds you?!

maybe because the US wont do that much to them apart from a slap on the hand and say lets make up

Wow China is defintly improving their naval air arm capabilities, starting to look a little like our navy, accept we have a lot of carriers, they have none right?

maybe because the US wont do that much to them apart from a slap on the hand and say lets make up

I think kicking them out of the F-35 program, not giving them any Raptors and not giving them any more anti missile laser systems and technology is more than a slap on the hand.

Originally posted by KiwiDave

Originally posted by chinawhite
one v.large picture of the Varyag

www.nwc.navy.mil...

What an ugly, ugly ship - geez, and some people believe China actually poses a threat...

Well I just hope they keep playing with redundant russion hardware!

[edit on 15-6-2005 by KiwiDave]

that picture was when it wsa in russian hands

un-maintained un-finished.

now china is finally getting that piece of shiet to work

Varyag in reconstruction?
www.china-defense.com...
www.centurychina.com...
img196.exs.cx...
www.china-defense.com...

Su-33 on lift
www.centurychina.com...

VLS missile launcher could be used to launch anti-ship c-805 missiles
www.china-defense.com...



China already has a fully functional carrierhehehe
www.anyboard.net...
www.anyboard.net...




Excellent Read

www.nwc.navy.mil...

how come these are just yellow squares?

www.anyboard.net...

Originally posted by blue cell
Wow China is defintly improving their naval air arm capabilities, starting to look a little like our navy, accept we have a lot of carriers, they have none right?

I have to agree with you, as it has been mentioned time and time again that the Chinese are newcomers to modern deep blue navy's, but it should also be noted that they are the first to find their mistakes and copy what works best.

In mind Opinion, they are preparing the Varyag as their first operational carrier. This is based on a number of factors:

- Recent Ship launches that include Air Defense Vessels and more American Style CVB escorts
- Naval Airwing stand up
- Dicussions with the Russian navy about their Naval Frogfoots

I understand that the chinese don't have experience with carriers but I wouldn't say they aren't willing to jump in head first, the same way they did with their early nuke boats.

This AWACs aircraft does signal that they are basing their fleet on American style carrier tactics, like I said, copy whatever works.

- Phil

Originally posted by bodrul
how come these are just yellow squares?

www.anyboard.net...

some of these sites dont allow hot links

[edit on 16-6-2005 by chinawhite]