Brahmos?

No, given “long-range high-precision weapons, which will enhance their strategic deterrent capabilities”, think more along the lines of “Akula class submarines feature very low acoustic signatures and can carry up to 12 submarine-launched cruise missiles with nuclear warheads and a range of 3,000 km (1,860 miles) in addition to anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.” and “Graney class nuclear submarines are designed to launch a variety of long-range cruise missiles (up to 3,100 miles or 5,000 km), with conventional or nuclear warheads, and effectively engage submarines, surface warships and land-based targets.
The submarine’s armament includes 24 cruise missiles and eight torpedo launchers, as well as mines and anti-ship missiles.”

http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20130320/180124266.html
http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20110319/163086398.html

Here’s an oft forgotten little jet that does sterling work in a lot of parts of the world: the Northrop F-5.

The F-5A first flew in 1959 while the radar equipped F-5E first flew in 1972.

A lot of airforces “grew up” on the F-5 – it was often their first supersonic jet and for some their first licence produced/assembled jet. For a lot of operators it will be their last.

They’ve seen a lot of combat – Vietnam, Sino-Vietnamese War, Morrocco (Polisario War), Iran-Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Ogaden War. I think some Morrocans ones even saw service in 1973 Yom Kippur but never engaged in air to air combat against IDF/AF.

And a lot are still in service not just with third world operaters but major airforces ala South Korea, Brazil, Singapore and Taiwan. Oh and the USN still uses them as aggressors, having brought ex-Swiss ones in 2000s.

Even older F-5A/B derivatives still fly with Botswana, Turkey and Spain, often as Lead In Fighter Trainers.

The higher end users have upgraded theirs to pack all manner of advanced mainly Israeli electronics as well as advanced AAMs ala Python IV or AMRAAM.

And recent news is that Uruguay has been presented with an offer for 12 Chilean Tiger IIIs.

Kenya too! (ex USAF and ex RJAF)

i am not sure what is mean by substantial. as long as frigates/diesel electric subs carry land attack cruise missiles. they are far more effective than traditional battleship.

more substantial as in ‘not every navy has them”

Is there any evidence of PLAN aircraft, specifically J-11/J-15 carrying out buddy refueling? I was not aware of any.

And your point regarding J-15s lifting off a STOBAR deck with enough fuel to act as a tanker is important.

Without having a tanker acting as a safety net during blue water ops the PLAN may have to modify its ideas about how far from land they can operate.

One idea they might consider is to have a land based tanker aloft during PLAN flight operations. Its not an elegant solution but it is better than nothing. An H-6U equipped with RDC-1 aerial refuelling pods might be pressed into service as a temporary measure

Su-27 and derivatives can use centreline Sakhalin UPAZ-1A hose-drogue aerial refuelling pod, performing as a buddy tanker. Don’t see why Chinese derivatives couldn’t. Consider China ordered Il-78MK, which uses 3x Sakhalin UPAZ-1A hose-drogue aerial refuelling pods. http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Tanker-Programs.html

The only big dogs worth mentioning is the USA and to a lesser degree France (who have a carrier force 6 months a year), Russia and Italy.

Britain is currently carrierless.

Spanish fleet is grounded and spend most of the year in port. They’ve also retired one carrier in 2012 and only have Juan Carlos LHD available.

Thailand has retired AV-8A and it’s carrier is a helo carrier only.

Brazil’s Sao Paolo was in refit and is only expected to rejoin fleet in 2013. With a mere 12 Skyhawks operational, it’s capability is extremely limited.

Indian Carrier program seems stalled – INS Vikramaditya is still non-operational and INS Viraat is out of action for 8-9 months for refit.

So what sort of capability do these other “top dogs” have? Pretty much none.

Their pilots don’t spend much time on carriers due to single ship fleets.

They also generally don’t field AWACs, refuelling aircraft or any other force multipliers (though Brazil is working on these using ancient Trackers).

Spain: Juan Carlos LHD is no less capable than PdA. The vessel has a flight deck of 202 metres (663 ft), with a “ski-jump” ramp. The ship’s flight deck has eight landing spots for Harrier, F 35 JSF or medium helicopters, four spots for heavy helicopters of the CH-47 Chinook type, and one spots large enough for aircraft of V-22 Osprey size. The ship can carry up to 30 aircraft in aircraft carrier mode, using the light vehicles bay as an additional storage zone.

Brazil: Twelve Brazilian Navy A-4 Skyhawks are to be upgraded by Embraer at a cost of $140 million. The upgrade will be similar to the ones done for the AMX and F-5EM aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force (Elta 2032, Derby, Python 4). The Brazilian Navy has contracted Marsh Aviation to convert four S-2T Turbo Trackers to an Airborne Early Warning configuration, and four more for tanking and Carrier Onboard Delivery duties. The São Paulo’s S.H-3 helicopter fleet is to be replaced by six S-70B Seahawk helicopters.

India: Feb 2013 reports indicate Russia has completed repairs on INS Vikramaditya, fixing the engine problems that caused a delay in the delivery of the refitted aircraft carrier to India last year. Sea trials of the aircraft carrier would resume in summer. Even though the problem has been fixed, the aircraft carrier cannot leave the shipyard till summer when the ice-clad White Sea reopens for navigation. Russian officials said earlier that the aircraft carrier would be delivered to India in November 2013
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/repairs-on-ins-vikramaditya-completed-says-russia/article4369832.ece
In sea trials last year, the ship sailed for 100 days
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/final-trials-for-ins-vikramaditya-rs-12-500-crore-ship-in-june-321809

Russian Navy to Receive 24 Subs, 54 Warships by 2020

Subs aside, its corvettes, frigates & landing ships …. nothing more substantial. Interesting.

Indian Navy To Be Without Carrier Until December

Yup, predictably, that IS why Gorshkov/Vikra is ugently needed.