[kosmic_k]

Were carriers truly obsolete then why is china rapidly building it's own? It already has been building forward operating bases in the South China sea. Why invest in building a new class of ship which they have only recently operated if it was already obsolete.

[nl]

It’s not hard to come up with quotes from the Chinese showing how much this carrier has to do with national pride instead of military usefulness:

“Building aircraft carriers is a symbol of an important nation. It is very necessary,” the China Daily paper quoted Admiral Hu Yanlin as saying earlier this month. “China has the capability to build aircraft carriers and should do so,” he said.

If you’re used to reading through DoD propaganda, no matter what country it’s coming from, you see what the admiral is saying here. Here’s my loose translation of what Admiral Hu is getting at: “We don’t actually need a carrier, but it’s part of being one of the big boys so we have to do it, like paying for your kid’s wedding. So we’ll turn out a few of them, but we’re only going to do it when it’s cheap and doesn’t interfere with production of real weapons like the DF-21.”

http://exiledonline.com/war-nerd-china-joins-the-yacht-club/

[kosmic_k]

They may say that, but I cannot fathom building a fully functioning carrier to be cheap by any measure. Chinese planners cannot possible expect for their artificial islands to last long in a conflict. They would be very vulnerable targets for cruise missile strikes from the Philippines, or Vietnam. So long as air power will play a significant part in warfare platforms to bring airpower where ever needed too will play a part.

[nl]

Note that there is one Chinese carrier in use[0] and it was actually purchased to use as a floating casino[1] for ~$20M (plus refit costs of course). We aren't talking Ford class money here. I do believe they are building more, but it isn't exactly clear how sophisticated they are. There are many theories that they are just building them to make the US and India waste money on building their own.

So long as air power will play a significant part in warfare platforms to bring airpower where ever needed too will play a part.

If we are talking about a potential South China Sea conflict, then it's all in range of Chinese planes flying off Hainan.

If we are talking more broadly, then I think you'll find that the Chinese idea of world power does not involve force projection the way the US understands it.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier#China

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_Liaon...

[burfog]

That casino thing was a ruse. It was a ploy to reduce opposition to the sale, ensuring that the ship would actually be delivered.

[nl]

Exactly. Worked pretty well!

One would note that India spent $2.3 Billion on INS Vikramaditya[1], which was also an ex-Soviet aircraft carrier, of roughly similar vintage. It was fitted out though, so the comparison isn't entirely fair.

Nevertheless.. $20M vs $2.3B

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Vikramaditya