Image source: topwar.ru
The Navy of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) is working hard to increase the speed of take-off and landing of carrier-based aircraft. For example, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, the first to be built at a domestic shipyard, took on board about 10,000 aircraft of various types based on the ship during its five years of service.
This is reported by the Global Times newspaper (PRC).
According to Chinese military expert Zhang Junshe, the aircraft wing of the aircraft carrier Shandong has achieved full mutual integration of the ship, carrier-based aircraft and personnel. This contributes to the growth of the combat capabilities of the aircraft carrier strike group. Therefore, he sees nothing surprising in the fact that the number of aircraft taken on board has reached almost ten thousand in five years. A steady increase in the number of sorties is provided by the aircraft carrier takeoff and landing support squadron.
The Shandong aircraft carrier group was also monitored by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces when it participated in exercises in the western Pacific Ocean last July. According to the Japanese, 380 combat sorties were flown from the aircraft carrier in seven days. The average output is 54-55 per day. Of these, 240 sorties were carried out by J-15 aircraft and 140 by helicopters.
Image source: topwar.ru
In total, the ship's standard air group consists of about 40 aircraft.
Of course, these are serious achievements, but the Chinese aircraft carrier fleet is still far away. For example, take the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier. It is larger than the Shandong, with up to 90 aircraft and helicopters available on board the Ford. Its first combat deployment took place in 2023 and lasted eight months. During this time, 10,396 carrier-based aircraft sorties were flown from its side. This is almost as much as was done on board the Shandong in five years.
But, given the dynamics of the growth of China's military power, one should not be surprised when, in the foreseeable future, the PLA Navy will catch up and surpass the Americans in all respects.
