china is rarely into UN participation and i doubt that stance will change anytime soon.

Only reason i would see china build carrier is for PR purpose and even then it would possibly be rebuilt something like varyag with an indigenous fighter like FT2000 or J-10.

Thats my point, they could build one for national prestige and political leverage. STOVL would be the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to do it.

How do u suggest China can protect any carrier from a fleet of 120 orions or RoC’s 300 F-16/Mirage fitted with harpoons.

Don’t start any wars 😉 or use the 100+ fighters which I suggested would operate from it 🙂

If China built a STOVL carrier, what type of aircraft would it carry? The Harrier isnt in production any more………I dont believe any are available to them on the 2nd hand market………..I’m sure the US wouldn’t sell them VSTOL F-35s…….so they would have to develope there own aircraft….poss based on the YAK-141……..I just don’t see that happening……..

Here is post 52 again to answer your questions. Its only a ‘What if…’ idea.

OK, nobody seems that impressed by the advanced STOVL Yak fighter idea so far, but have a think about this possibility.

China and Russia get together to develop the STOVL Yak, it is armed with the latest weapons they can produce and has decent performance and capabilities.

China begins building a fleet of low cost, basic design aircraft carriers based on ultra large cargo ships capable of operating 100+ Yaks.

Although still not a match for the full capabilities of the USN, China has dramatically shifted the balance of power in the Pacific with relatively little effort.

Pic of possible advanced Yak STOVL

China will do what it wants, this is just an idea of mine (although I think I read it in a book too, ‘Invasion’ by Eric L. Harry I think).

STOVL is just a quicker and easier way for China to get supercarriers, they could carry 100+ Yak fighters or, just as easily, 100+ helicopters with a 1000 troops for UN peace keeping operations.

I don’t think China would build these supercarriers for the sole purpose of waging war against the USA. They would build them as status symbols of their growing power.

Apart from the hot gas ingestion problem, I think the seperate lift jet is better than a shaft driven lift fan. I would have thought that a lift jet would be cheaper, lighter, more powerful and easier to maintain than a shaft driven lift fan installation, but the JSF program seems to think otherwise.

Anyway, lets get back to talking about aircraft carriers.

Although the proposed Chinese ultra large aircraft carrier might not be a match for a USN carrier battle group in combat, it could still sail the worlds oceans at leisure showing the world the future potential of China. It would be a powerful political and diplomatic weapon at least.