1st image of Chinese Aircraft Carrier

[Feanor]

The first time this ship has put to sea under its own power - even if it hadn't spent 25 years being built - will be dedicated to testing the actual ship. Any air movements will hapen later.

As to aircraft the PLANAF is working on a deal with the Russians for 48 Su-33s the naval version of the Su-27 plus a copy called the J-15. Be interesting to see what they roll out for training.

The Su-33 deal was reported a bust because China wanted to buy a small number, and Russia wanted at least 24 to restart the production line. Do you have different info?

 

[Fraggle]

The Su-33 deal was reported a bust because China wanted to buy a small number, and Russia wanted at least 24 to restart the production line. Do you have different info?

I think Russia may also be a bit concerned that China may not be totaly ethical with what it does with Russian technology. When they sold China the license to build the Su-27SK (J-11) the Chinese basicaly reverse engineered it and started building the J-11B. They also obtained an early prototype of the Su-33 from the Ukraine and came up with the J-15 naval fighter which looks a lot like an Su-33 with J-11B avionics.