Wednesday, November 22, 2006

What's Up?

The Chinese seem to have an interest in carriers despite their failure to do anything concrete. Despite rumors over the last several years that the Chinese might have a couple carrier battlegroups by 2008 or so, it sure doesn't seem like they are close.

But the Chinese are looking at Russian carrier aircraft:
Near the end of October, Russia's Kommersant newspaper revealed that Russian state-run weapon exporter Rosoboronexport is completing negotiations with China to deliver up to 48 Sukhoi SU-33 (NATO codename: Flanker-D) carrier-capable fighter aircraft in a purchase deal reportedly worth $2.5 billion.


Carrier aircraft should mean actual carriers. Bears watching.