China puts all its aircraft carriers to sea for the first time in history

For the first time in history, the Chinese army put all of its aircraft carriers to sea at the same time. This allows us to see how China can deploy its ships during, say, an attack on Taiwan.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to The Telegraph.

According to the publication, last weekend, all three Chinese aircraft carriers - the former Soviet Liaoning, its locally built sister ship Shandong, and the newest, largest and best Chinese-made aircraft carrier Fujian - were at sea.

It is known that the Fujian is conducting tests in the Yellow Sea. “The Shandong was in the South China Sea west of Taiwan with an escort. “The Liaoning was in the Philippine Sea east of Taiwan with an escort.” Interestingly, the Fujian is not yet in service with the Chinese army. However, when it joins the fleet, China will become the world's second largest aircraft carrier force, ahead of the Royal Navy's double-deckers and the Indian Navy.

However, it will lag behind the US Navy. Moreover, China's carriers are smaller than those of the United States: “Liaoning” and ‘Shandong’ with a displacement of about 60,000 tons. “The Fujian is about 70,000 tons. Their air component is smaller and, most importantly, only the Fujian has catapults - three of them - and can launch J-15 and (in the future) J-35 fighters with a maximum weight.

According to The Telegraph, the fact that the Chinese sent three aircraft carriers to sea at once is ominous for Taiwan

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 25/09/2024