Military Procurement International Vol. 19, No. 9, May 1, 2009
Copyright DAPSS S.A., 200
9, Switzerland. It is unlawful to reproduce any of this publication without written permission from the publisher.
CHINA
To
build 4-6 aircraft carriers?
Recent reports suggest that the
leadership in Beijing has taken the political decision to build 4-6 aircraft
carriers for the Chinese PLA Navy (PLAN), with the first to enter service from 2015. If
confirmed, this would signal China’s arrival as a global maritime power.
Currently, the PLAN has no carrier capability.
We have previously reported that there is an ongoing debate in China about whether to copy or to buy Sukhoi Su-33 carrier-borne aircraft from Russia (MPI April 1, 2009, page 4). Apparently, this debate is still unresolved.