First Chinese Carrier Completed Second Phase of Sea Trials

13.12.2011 Chinese aircraft carrier Shi Lang (Project 11436M) built on the basis of former Soviet aircraft-carrying cruiser Varyag has successfully passed second phase of shipyard's sea trials. According to local news agencies, on Dec 10 the ship returned to Dalian port after a 12-day cruise.

Official sources give no comments as of the carrier's missions at the second sortie and whether her deck-based aviation had been used. First phase of the sea trials was carried out in Aug and lasted 5 days. According to Chinese defense ministry, all outfitting and equipment-testing works had been finished prior to the second sortie.

Meanwhile, regional military magazine Kanwa Asian Defence writes that such important element as arresters have not been mounted on the Chinese "Varyag" so far. The question is a system of ropes slowing down airplanes landing on the deck. According to the magazine, China was about to purchase four arresters from Russia. However, Russia refused to sell such kind of equipment referring to its strategic nature. Thus, commissioning of the first Chinese aircraft carrier is associated with serious problems, since designing and production of arresters is extremely difficult, states the Hong Kong's magazine.

Chief Editor of Kanwa Asian Defense Andrei Chang assumed that Russia's refusal to deliver equipment for the Chinese carrier is a result of displeasure with China copying Russian weapon systems. In particular, experts say deck-based fighters J-15 for refitted Varyag are nothing but clones of Russian Su-33.

The aircraft carrier is designed for maintaining of air domination in naval theaters, delivering strikes upon sea and land targets, supporting of land actions, assistance to large-scale landing operations etc.

Architecturally, it is a flush decked ship with angular flight deck and starboard island. Comparing to Project 11435, the bulkhead's configuration was changed. The bow ramp is integral with the hull which consists of longitudinal and athwartship bulkheads. It is planned to provide protection against weapons of mass destruction.

The air wing comprises multirole fighters J-15 analogous to Russian deck-based fighters Su-33 and various helicopters, totally up to 52 aircrafts. The carrier is equipped with a ramp, and must have a 4-rope arrester and 2 onboard elevators. Weight of aircraft load is 1,000 tons, aircraft fuel – up to 2,500 tons.

The ship was laid down in 1985 at Chernomorsky Shipyard (Nikolayev); in 1992 construction was shut down (68% completed, cost about 400 mln rubles). In 1998 the carrier was bought for $20 mln by China, in March 2002 she was delivered to Dalian shipyard for completion under altered project (supposedly, Project 11436M with Ukraine's assistance). In Aug 2011 the ship started sea trials. Expectedly, the carrier would be commissioned in 2012. China's overall expenses for the ship's completion may number up to $450 mln. It is planned to use the ship for training of shipborne pilots and researches. China plans to build two or three ships of this project with technical assistance of Ukraine.

Full displacement of the ship is 58,500 tons, length overall is 304.5 meters, beam is 72 meters, draft is 10.5 meters.