Yes. Reasoning; Varyag entered dalian drydock in 2005. If they knew everything they needed, it doesn’t explain why it took 10 years for Chinese. They are building several ships (albeit smaller) per year. Their funding is virtually limitless and only technical reasons can explain such delay.
The fact that the ship was a more a rusting block of steel than a true ship cannot be reason enough ??? Alone to examine what could be used and what has to be torn out completely takes months if not years. Especially the missing engines or no longer usable boilers … the opening of the hull and again the installation and testing of the new equipment. IMO the Varyag was more some kind that a box of surprises than a semi-finished ship.
To admit I’m surprised that so many expected the Liaoning to enter service sooner … and even more it is so typically that this mismatch to the own expectations is seen as proof that the Chinese have and had problems. Do we have an official statement when the Liaoning was planned to enter service ? Are there any reports from the PLN that they are behind schedule, that they are unhappy with the progress ??
Both J-20 and J-31 is funded by PLAAF, and PLAN clearly stated they have no desire to field J-31. mk1 eyeball inspection tells me there is no apperant provision on J-20 for arrester hook. I may be well wrong on this one or PLAN may just change their minds, however, that is my opinion/estimate for the next decade.
No, the J-20 is financed by the PLAAF, the J-31 so far (at least from what is known) not. It is a private venture demonstrator … as such let us wait if and when another prototype will be shown.
Deino
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