China's Naval Aviation and its Prospective Role in Blue Water Capabilities of the PLA Navy

Abstract

The PLA Navy's aviation branch, officially known as the PLA Navy Air Force (PLAN AF), comprises 25,000 personnel and more than 800 aircraft. It provides the PLA Navy with its own air capability independent of the PLA Air Force. But the Force remains largely land-based. However, the much speculated upon aircraft carrier program will impart a new dimension to the Chinese naval aviation. With the current level of national technological capability and available maritime infrastructure, the PLA Navy will, at best, be able to project power with its carriers within the South and East China Sea only, in the 2020 timeframe. It will find it increasingly hard to project power-using aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean Region without full-fledged military bases to support logistics and ship and aircraft maintenance/repairs. Thus the credible Chinese power projection capability in the Indian Ocean still appears to be at least two decades away. But the international community must take due cognizance of this inevitability now and commence preparations to face this forthcoming challenge.

Notes

1. The agricultural, industrial and science and technology modernisations took higher precedence over Defence modernization in the “Four Modernisations” plan.

2. See Ministry of National Defense of Peoples Republic of China, “Chapter II-National Defense Policy” in White Paper on China's National Defense in 2006, http://eng.mod.gov.cn/Database/WhitePapers/2007-01/15/content_4004364.htm (accessed June 7, 2010).

3. The term “informationisation” describes China's military effort to incorporate modern technology into all aspects of operations and includes means to protect one's own information such as own command and control systems and the means to disrupt the information of the adversary such as cyber attacks and electronic jamming. See US Office of Naval Intelligence, The People's Liberation Army Navy: A Modern Navy with Chinese Characteristics, August 2009, p. 7. The term generally connotes the integration of all communication, radar, nuclear, C4ISR, space and satellite systems with strategic and tactical command platforms to achieve net-centric joint warfare capability.

4. This guideline aims at winning “local wars under conditions of informationization” by way of joint operations, training and support, optimising the force structure and composition, and building the capabilities suitable for such warfare. It professes close co-ordination between military actions and diplomatic, economic and legal efforts towards attainment of the same aim. See “Section II-National Defence Policy” in White Paper on China's National Defense in 2008, http://www.china.org.cn/government/central_government/2009-1/20/content_17155577_4.htm (accessed June 07, 2010).

5. This guideline aims at winning “local wars under conditions of informationization” by way of joint operations, training and support, optimising the force structure and composition, and building the capabilities suitable for such warfare. It professes close co-ordination between military actions and diplomatic, economic and legal efforts towards attainment of the same aim. See “Section II-National Defence Policy” in White Paper on China's National Defense in 2008, http://www.china.org.cn/government/central_government/2009-1/20/content_17155577_4.htm (accessed June 07, 2010).

6. According to some PLA Navy writings, “Off shore Defense Strategy” is a concept that directs the PLA Navy to “keep the enemy within limits and resist invasion from sea, protect the Nation's territorial sovereignty and safeguard its maritime rights” by engaging in maritime operations out at sea.

7. See US Office of Naval Intelligence, China's Navy 2007, pp. 23–24, for the changing definition of the word “offshore”.

8. “Navy Admiral: China to develop sophisticated marine weapon systems”, China View, April 15, 2009, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/15/content_11191749.htm (accessed June 14, 2010).

9. Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–10, p. 127.

10. US Office of Naval Intelligence, China's Navy 2007, Chapter 7, p. 45.

11. International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS). The Military Balance 2009 (London: IISS, 2009), p. 385.

12. The People's Liberation Army Navy: A Modern Navy with Chinese Characteristics, pp. 23–25.

13. The presence of two AWACS in PLA Navy Air Force has also been corroborated by the Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–10, p. 147.

14. See The People's Liberation Army Navy: A modern navy with Chinese Characteristics.

15. See the Military Balance 2009. The quantity of aircraft varies from source to source. For instance, the figures of Z-9 and Kamov 28 helicopters reported in the US Office of Naval Intelligence publication, The People's Liberation Army Navy are 10 and 8 respectively, while Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–10, p. 147, gives the figures as 15 Z-8s, 11 Z-9s and 10 Ka-28s.

16. The number of divisions again varies from source to source. While the US Office of Naval Intelligence publication, China's Navy 2007 mentions 7 divisions, the Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–10, p. 127 quotes eight divisions with 27 air regiments.

17. “PLANAF 2nd ‘Specialized’ Division”, china-defence blogspot, April 25, 2009, http://china-defence.blogspot.com/2009/04/planaf-2nd-specialized-division.html (accessed June 18, 2010).

18. Hong-6U Tanker, Sinodefence.com, http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/airlift/h6tanker.asp (accessed June 14, 2010).

19. The statement of Chen Mingyi, member the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top Chinese political advisory body, in March 2009, as reported by the China Internet Information Center: “Chinese navy urged to go from coastal waters to oceans”, http://www.china.org.cn/government/NPC_CPPCC_2009/2009-03/07/content_17397799.htm (accessed August 19, 2009).

20. “Chapter 10: Future Force Structure” in US Naval Operations Concept 2010 (NOC 10), p. 83.

21. The quotation ascribed to Admiral Liu Huaqing has been taken from the article by Andrew S. Erickson and Andrew R. Wilson, “China's Aircraft Carrier Dilemma”, Naval War College Review 59, no. 4 (Autumn 2006): 13–45. The authors in turn, quote the Memoirs of Liu Huaqing (Beijing: People's Liberation Army Press, 2004). The original work was in Chinese language and the authors claim to have checked all the translations of the quotes against the translations provided by the US Government translator, the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS).

22. The quotation ascribed to Admiral Liu Huaqing has been taken from the article by Andrew S. Erickson and Andrew R. Wilson, “China's Aircraft Carrier Dilemma”, Naval War College Review 59, no. 4 (Autumn 2006): 13–45. The authors in turn, quote the Memoirs of Liu Huaqing (Beijing: People's Liberation Army Press, 2004). The original work was in Chinese language and the authors claim to have checked all the translations of the quotes against the translations provided by the US Government translator, the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS).

23. Erickson and Wilson, China's Aircraft Carrier Dilemma, p. 19.

24. “China confirms plans to build aircraft carrier”, RIA Novosti, March 23, 2009, http://en.rian.ru/world/20090323/120692506.html (accessed June 18, 2010).

25. Ronald O'Rourke, “China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress”, CRS Report for Congress, April 9, 2010, p. 46, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33153.pdf (accessed June 24, 2010).

26. Russel Hsiao, “In a Fortnight: Project 048: China's Secret Aircraft Carrier Command?”, China Brief, The Jamestown Foundation, April 2, 2009, http://www.jamestown.org/uploads/media/cb_009_7_04.pdf (accessed on June 25, 2010).

27. Russel Hsiao, “In a Fortnight: Project 048: China's Secret Aircraft Carrier Command?”, China Brief, The Jamestown Foundation, April 2, 2009, http://www.jamestown.org/uploads/media/cb_009_7_04.pdf (accessed on June 25, 2010).

28. Reuben F. Johnson, “Talks twist and turn as Chinese navy eyes Su-33”, Jane's Defense Weekly, March 18, 2009, p.4.

29. “China making first J15 ship-borne fighter”, Kanwa Defense Review News, March 30, 2010.

30. Andrei Chang, “Analysis: Ukraine aids China carrier plan”, Space War, December 10, 2008, http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Analysis_Ukraine_aids_China_carrier_plan_999.html (accessed on June 25, 2010).

31. See US Department of Defense Annual Report to Congress, Military Power of Peoples Republic of China (2009), p. 40.

32. “Chinese Military: Report Concerning China's Aircraft Carriers Groundless”, Chinese Ministry of National Defense online English edition, January 12, 2010, http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/china-military-news/2010-01/12/content_4115529.htm (accessed June 24, 2010).

33. Erickson and Wilson, China's Aircraft Carrier Dilemma, p. 21.

34. Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010, p. 134.

35. Nan Li and Christopher Weuve, “China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions: An Update”, Naval War College Review, 63, no. 1 (Winter 2010), http://www.thefreelibrary.com/China'saircraftcarrierambitions:anupdate.-a0218877250 (accessed June 28, 2010).

36. Nan Li and Christopher Weuve, “China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions: An Update”, Naval War College Review, 63, no. 1 (Winter 2010), http://www.thefreelibrary.com/China'saircraftcarrierambitions:anupdate.-a0218877250 (accessed June 28, 2010).

37. For detailed calculations, see Li and Weave, “China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions”. The estimates are also based on the American experience of operating aircraft carriers over a long period.

38. For detailed calculations, see Li and Weave, “China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions”. The estimates are also based on the American experience of operating aircraft carriers over a long period. The official Defence budget for the year 2010 is $76.3 billion, up 7.5% from 2009 budget of $70.3 billion and the US DOD estimates place the figure between $120-180 billion.

39. See “Section V: PLA Navy” in White Paper on China's National Defense in 2008, For detailed calculations, see Li and Weave, “China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions”. The estimates are also based on the American experience of operating aircraft carriers over a long period. The official Defence budget for the year 2010 is $76.3 billion, up 7.5% from 2009 budget of $70.3 billion and the US DOD estimates place the figure between $120-180 billion.

40. Li and Weuve, China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions.

41. “All Things Ready at Changxing Island Shipyard”, Kanwa Defense Review, May 2010.

42. “Wuhan Aircraft Carrier Shocks Russian & Western Radar Experts in Dubai”, Kanwa Defense Review, March 2010.

43. Andrei Chang, “Kanwa's questions to Rosoboronexport's General Technological Adviser Dr. Anatoly Aksenov”, Kanwa Defense Review News, June 30, 2009. These remarks have been attributed to Dr. Anatoly Aksenov, Rosoboronexport's General Technological Adviser.

44. Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd), “The Challenge of China's Maritime Power”, http://www.maritimeindia.org/pdfs/China's_Maritime_Challenge.pdf (accessed on June 30, 2010).

45. Li and Weuve, China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions.

46. “China making first J15 Ship-borne fighter”, Kanwa Defense Review News, March 30, 2010.

47. US Naval Operations Concept 2010 (NOC 10), Chapter 10, Future Force Structure, p. 83.

48. Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010, p. 160.

49. For detailed capabilities of Kilo class submarines against aircraft carriers, see Peter Howarth, China's Rising Sea Power: The PLA Navy's Submarine Challenge (New York: Routledge, 2006), pp. 99–103.

50. Erickson and Wilson, China's Aircraft Carrier Dilemma, p. 26.

51. Iskander Rehman, “The Implications of China's Aircraft Carrier Plans for Vietnam in the Spratlys”, BBC WORLD, http://www.bbc.co.uk/vietnamese/vietnam/2010/05/100509_seastrategy_iskander.shtml (accessed June 4, 2010). The English version of the broad issues covered in this Vietnamese language article is available at http://indiangeopolitics.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html.

52. “An update on the training of PLAN officers in Brazil”, China-DefenseBlogspot, November 16, 2009, http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2009/11/update-on-plan-officers-to-train-on.html (accessed June 30, 2010).

53. Brazil has the Sao Paulo aircraft carrier with 33,673 Tons displacement and operates Sky-Hawk aircraft from its flat top by means of catapulted take off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) system. See Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010, p. 72.

54. For other details on the capabilities of the E-2C Hawkeye aircraft, See Li and Weuve, China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions.

55. “Ka-31 Radar picket naval helicopter”, airforce-technology.com, http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ka31/ (accessed on June 30, 2010).

56. Erickson and Wilson, “China's Aircraft Carrier Dilemma”, pp. 13–45 (cf. note 21).

57. Li and Weuve, China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions.

58. CRS Report for Congress, April 09, 2010, Li and Weuve, China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions, pp. 11–12.

59. US Naval Operations Concept 2010 (NOC 10), Annex B, Glossary, p. 99.

60. Erickson and Wilson, China's Aircraft Carrier Dilemma, p. 29.

61. Li and Weuve, China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions. The First Island Chain extends from Kurile Islands through the main islands of Japan, the Ryukyu Archipelago, Taiwan, and the Philippines to Borneo.

62. Howarth, China's Rising Sea Power, p. 45.

63. Rehman, “The Implications of China's Aircraft Carrier Plans for Vietnam in the Spratlys”, ibid.

64. The Second Island Chain ranges from the Japanese archipelago south to the Bonin and Marshall islands, including Guam.

65. Erickson and Wilson, China's Aircraft Carrier Dilemma, p. 16.

66. Editorial. “China-Japan frictions at sea”, The Japan Times, May 25, 2010, http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20100525a1.html (accessed June 04, 2010).

67. Li and Weuve, China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions.

68. Erickson and Wilson, “China's Aircraft Carrier Dilemma”, pp. 13–45 (cf. note 21).

69. The endurance estimate is based on that of its sister ship, Admiral Kuznetsov. Further the endurance of the carrier decreases substantially to 3850 NM at full speed of 29 kts. Anautical mile is equal to 1.8 kilometers and Knot is the unit of ship speed in terms of nautical miles per hour. For endurance figures, see Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010, p. 664.