WHAT

The Chinese purchased a Russian aircraft Varyag from Ukraine and have been refurbishing it on their own. Recently media reported that the ship was towed out to sea for trials. Ostensibly they intend to use it for training and research and to get used to operating such ships.

Very little is known about the propulsion, navigation and armament equipment fitted on board, but no doubt the ship will be equipped to carry steam turbines, several aircraft and helicopters besides missiles guns and sophisticate radar & communication systems.

There were recent reports that the Chinese were in secret talks with India for joint patrolling in the sea lanes of the Indian Ocean. An aircraft carrier would be ideal for such missions, to protect their vast oil trade from the Gulf and with Africa. Coupled with the fact that they are actively building a naval base in southern Sri Lanka and have helped Pakistan to set up a naval base at Gwadar, aircraft carriers fit in nicely with their long term naval strategic plans.

Reports also say that China is secretly building two more carriers one of which is a 93,000 ton nuclear powered ship.

Japan and other neighbouring countries have expressed concern at China having aircraft carriers and questioned their need to acquire such warships.

The report by Xinhua News Agency dated 15 August makes interesting reading:

"China's first aircraft carrier returned to Dalian yesterday after completing her initial sea trials.

The carrier was towed back to the port in northeast China's Liaoning Province by tugboats at 10:45am after four days of tests in the Yellow Sea, Xinhua news agency reported.

Firecrackers and cheers erupted from the shipyard when seven tugboats, one at the carrier's bow, two portside and four at the stern, guided the warship in. A banner at the port read: "Welcome the aircraft carrier's triumphant return."

China's first aircraft carrier returned to Dalian on August 14, 2011 after completing her initial sea trials.

On the carrier, some Navy solders were seen walking on deck, while all its weapons were covered, the report said.

Military sources told Xinhua that the first sea trials were in line with the schedule of the carrier's refitting project and, after returning from the trials, refit and test work would continue.

The carrier is expected to officially start service with the Chinese Navy in August next year and a naming ceremony for the vessel, formerly the Varyag, would be held next October, the sources said.

Details of the four-day trials are sketchy, with the military remaining tight-lipped, but China Central Television reported that the carrier's engines, electronic systems, navigation systems and weapons were all checked.
Xinhua said the carrier might also have tested the taking off and landing of aircraft.

Yin Zhuo, a Chinese military expert, said the carrier's radar system was among the world's most advanced. The Chinese-made system, known as the "Chinese Aegis" to compare with the Aegis Combat System initially used by the United States Navy, can cope with supersonic missiles as efficiently as the US system, said Yin. The system has been used on two of the Chinese Navy's destroyers.

Li Jie, a researcher of the China Navy Military Academy, said some unmanned aerial vehicles might have landed on the carrier.

The carrier is capable of landing about 30 Chinese J-15 fighters and helicopters and will have a crew of around 2,000.

The vessel was originally built by the former Soviet Union, which failed to complete construction before its collapse in 1991. Ukraine disarmed the carrier and removed the engines before selling her to China.

The best part of 10 years has been spent refurbishing the carrier with the aim of using it for scientific research, experiments and training.

Japan's defence minister called on China to explain why it needs an aircraft carrier, after Beijing sparked increased concerns over its military expansion by starting sea trials for the vessel.

"As an aircraft carrier, it is of a highly maneuverable and offensive nature. We want China to explain the reasons why it needs it," Toshimi Kitazawa told reporters.

China put the revamped Soviet-built aircraft carrier Varyag to sea on Wednesday, prompting the United States to call for an explanation.

Beijing has sought to play down the vessel's capability, saying it will mainly be used for training and "research".

In its annual defence report last week, Japan expressed concern over China's growing assertiveness and widening naval reach in nearby waters and the Pacific and over what it called the "opaqueness" of Beijing's military budget.

China criticised the report as "irresponsible", insisting its drive to modernise its forces was entirely defensive.