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Satellite Spots China's First Aircraft Carrier
Hugh Pickens writes "Commercial satellite company DigitalGlobe Inc. has announced that it has an image of the People's Republic of China's first functional aircraft carrier, taken during the carrier's first sea trials in the Yellow Sea. The carrier was originally meant for the Soviet navy, but its construction was halted as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and engineers in the Ukraine disarmed it and removed its engines before selling it to China in 1998 for $20 million. The vessel, an Admiral Kuznetsov class aircraft carrier measuring 304.5 meters long, and having a displacement of 58,500 tons, has been refitted for research and training in China. The Ministry of National Defense says the steam-powered aircraft carrier has completed all refitting and testing work as scheduled after its first sea trial in mid-August, and was heading back out to sea for additional scientific research and experiments. According to Andrew S. Erickson at the US Naval War College, China's long term strategic dilemma is whether to focus on large-deck aviation or on submarines (PDF)."
Time to drop the trade agreement for furs and hope they dont halve aluminum or uranium within their borders.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
The US uses steam catapults, which are even better but are more expensive and are fairly involved to design.
Ford class carriers (2 currently under construction) will use magnetic launch rather than steam launch.
To be followed in 20 years by the Obama class which use Hope
You mean land locked Tibet?
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
What are you talking about? Carriers have an offense of 1, a defense of 9, and 4 hit points (1/9/4)! About the only thing that has any hope of destroying one is a submarine (10/2/3) or stealth bomber (14/5/2).
Ski jump technology is doomed as global warming will limit the latitudes where it can be operational
Phht, that's Dungeons and Dragons, a game your play with friends in your mom's basement. He was talking about Civilization, a game you play alone in your mom's basement.
No, that link you posted to a web comic we've all seen a hundred times is not "obligatory."
I guess countries like Spain, Italy and even Thailand are "offensive countries"? They all have aircraft carriers.
Remember the ships the Empire used in Star Wars?
That's right, Thai fighters.
Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
"To be followed in 20 years by the Obama class which use Hope"
And works indistinguishably from its predecessor....
"This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."