Chinese carrier in landing and take-off tests

[Karle94]

Why be afraid of it? The J-15/SU-33 can`t take off with much fuel and arnament and is as such practically useless. Only cats can launch a plane fully fueled and armed. A feature only American and French carriers both present and future will have.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Karle94

Why be afraid of it? The J-15/SU-33 can`t take off with much fuel and arnament and is as such practically useless. Only cats can launch a plane fully fueled and armed. A feature only American and French carriers both present and future will have.

Good point but times are changing austerity measure wise.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Karle94

Why be afraid of it? The J-15/SU-33 can`t take off with much fuel and arnament and is as such practically useless. Only cats can launch a plane fully fueled and armed. A feature only American and French carriers both present and future will have.

The J-15 is not exactly a top line fighter, it's not a bad fighter but its engines are...not brilliant and are probably the weakest part of the whole design.
It probably has better sensors than the Su-33, and the AAMs aren't to be sniffed at...but yes, she most likely has shorter legs than a Hornet and they don't have any carrier bourne tankers at the moment.

Still, it's baby steps, the Liaoning was basically intended as a trainer ship, to get pilots and sailors into the frame of mind of carrier operations in a manner that a chalk outline in the middle of nowhere can't do. The next two carriers are, I believe, under construction now or are due to be started very shortly.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Karle94

Why be afraid of it? The J-15/SU-33 can`t take off with much fuel and arnament and is as such practically useless. Only cats can launch a plane fully fueled and armed. A feature only American and French carriers both present and future will have.

May I ask why you think so? I have not seen plans nor even concepts of future Chinese aircraft carriers.

Originally Posted by Oberon

The next two carriers are, I believe, under construction now or are due to be started very shortly.

From references section of Wikipedia's article "Chinese aircraft carrier programme"

7. ^ a b Global Times, "PLA Chief Confirms Vessel Is 'Under Construction'", 8 June 2011.

and article itself

On 7 June 2011, People's Liberation Army Chief of the General Staff Chen Bingde confirmed that China was constructing its own aircraft carrier. He stated he would provide no further details until it was complete.