Text/Editor/Editor Chinese aircraft carrier fleet On June 17, 2022, in the attention of global media, the third aircraft carrier 003 "Fujian Ship", the Chinese Navy's third aircraft carrier, was successfully launched. The advent of this aircraft carrier marks that the Chinese Nav

2025/07/0610:48:39 hotcomm 1148

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Chinese aircraft carrier formation

On June 17, 2022, in the attention of global media, the third aircraft carrier 003 "Fujian Ship" of the Chinese Navy was successfully launched. The advent of this aircraft carrier marks that the Chinese Navy has become one of the most advanced forces on the earth. It is equipped with electromagnetic catapult technology , and even the United States is jealous of it. At the same time, some Indian netizens could not sit still on the Zhihu Quora forum in the United States. You should know that as one of the top military powers in South Asia, the Indians also own two aircraft carriers. Seeing China No. 003 shining, they actually said with a shameless face: "They are both self-developed aircraft carriers, why can Indian aircraft carriers crush China?"

soon, and this question attracted heated discussions from everyone, but to their disappointment, netizens from all countries agreed that Indian aircraft carriers had defeated China in all aspects.

Question: Why can Indian aircraft carriers crush China?

American military expert JC's answer

The reason why people are afraid of China rather than India is that India does not have the strength to build aircraft carriers.India's two aircraft carriers are all bought with money and cannot be compared with China.Next, I will list the shipbuilding comparison between India and China.

The reason why people are afraid of China and not India is because India does not have the ability to build aircraft carriers. Both India's aircraft carriers were bought with money and cannot be compared with China. Next, I will compare shipbuilding between India and China.

India Vikrant aircraft carrier

1.The Indian standard for shipbuilding and especially military shipbuilding has always been relatively slower. Usually for destroyers (the backbone of most medium to large navies) India takes around 10 years from laying down to commissioning one. I don't know what procedures caused this but it seems consistent and likely systematic, while for China in the recent two decades the span for building a destroyer is usually well within 5 years (also from laying down to commissioning). So it shouldn't be a surprise that for aircraft carriers the situation is similar.

India's shipbuilding standards, especially military shipbuilding standards, have been relatively slow. Usually for the destroyer (medium to large naval battleships), it takes about 10 years from the start of production to the induction of troops in India. And these all stem from India's weak industrial system and production technology. In the past two decades, China has made tremendous progress in shipbuilding. The span of building destroyers is usually within 5 years (from laying to commissioning), so building an aircraft carrier doesn't have to wait too long for China.

2.Chinese ships almost all use domestically-built equipment. No negotiation, procurement, evaluation, etc. with foreign parties was needed for the recently-launched 003carrier.The most advanced technology on the aircraft carrier also comes from the self-development of Chinese scientists, which enables the Chinese aircraft carrier to continuously form a real naval force without being controlled by others and being pinched at critical moments.

Chinese ships almost all use domestic equipment. The 003 aircraft carrier that has just been launched does not need to negotiate, purchase, evaluate, etc. with foreign parties. The most advanced technology on aircraft carriers also comes from the self-development of Chinese scientists, which allows , Chinese aircraft carrier to continuously form a real naval force without being controlled by others and being choked at critical moments.

China Navy 003 aircraft carrier

The Vikrant for India seems to use quite some foreign equipment, and it does not help those equipment need more time for integration also. The Vishal should rely on foreign components even more because it will be (reportedly) nuclear-powered and equipped with catapults, which seems almost certainly to be imported or "jointly done".

India's Vikrant aircraft carrier uses a large number of foreign equipment, which leads to India's usual need to rely on outsiders for maintenance and repair. Even the catapult , which is regarded as proud by the Indians on the aircraft carrier, is all European technology. Compared with China, India has lost.

Indian netizen Siwakuma's answer

Do you know why India has only two aircraft carriers? Because the government can't afford more!For the Indian government, the high construction cost, high maintenance cost and high operation cost have become a huge burden.Next, let's make an account.

Do you know why India has only two aircraft carriers? Because the government can't afford more! For the Indian government, high construction costs, high maintenance costs, and high operating costs of are already a huge burden. Next, let's do some calculations.

Cost of the carrier: 2.3 Billion USD

Aircraft cost: $2.3 billion

Cost of the air wing (26 x Mig 29k and 10 x Ka-31 helos): around 800 Million USD

Wing cost (26 x Mig 29k and 10 x Ka-31 helos): about $800 Million USD

Wing cost (26 x Mig 29k and 10 x Ka-31 helos): about $800 Million

Defensive weapons and other equipment (this is an estimate): 200+ Million USD?

Defensive weapons and other equipment (this is the estimated): 200+ Million USD?

And so, we spent more than 3 Billion USD just to acquire everything.

So, we spent more than $3 billion to acquire an aircraft carrier.

And this is just the beginning...

And this is just the beginning.

There is a crew of 110 officers and 1500 sailors. They need to be trained, paid, and fed. Then there is the cost of fuel for the carrier and the aircraft, the cost of armament, the cost of maintenance and repair, the cost of upgrades and refits, the costs of building/upgrading a naval base to accommodate the carrier, and on and on!

There is a crew of 110 officers and 1500 sailors. There were 110 officers and 1,500 sailors. They need training, pay and daily diet. In addition, the fuel costs of aircraft carriers and aircraft, weapons costs, maintenance and repair costs, upgrade and modification costs, and the expense of building and upgrading naval bases are astronomical.

In my opinion, the competition between aircraft carriers is actually a game of wealth. Compared with China, India is still far behind.Not to mention that China is made in China, while India is buying at a high price. From the beginning, India was at a Disadvantage.

And all of the above are for the people to pay for. In my opinion, the competition between aircraft carriers is actually a game of wealth. Compared with China, India is still far behind. Not to mention that China is made in China, but India buys it at a high price. India was at a disadvantage from the beginning.

American technical expert Wu Huijian's answer

In fact, the reason is very simple, because China's aircraft carrier is more advanced, while India's is worse.

China Type 003 aircraft carrier.

The Type 003 aircraft carrier is conventionally powered and uses electromagnetic catapults. The number of electromagnetic catapults is 3 sets. Displacement is expected to be 85,000 tonnes, with a full pass-through flat deck.

003 aircraft carrier adopts conventional power and uses electromagnetic catapults . The number of electromagnetic catapults is 3 sets. The displacement is expected to be 85,000 tons with a fully passed flat deck.

Normal displacement 78,000 tonnes

Normal displacement 78,000 tons

Full load displacement 85,000 tons

60 aircraft (expected to be equipped with more than 48 J-15T fighters and several Air Marshal-600 fixed-wing early warning aircraft)

60 aircraft (expectedly equipped with more than 48 J-15T fighter jets and multiple Air Marshal-600 fixed wing early warning aircraft)

Length 320m

80m wide

On 27 January 2021, the US Congressional Service submitted a Special study, China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities-Background and Issues for Congress. Capabilities-Background and Issues for Congress". The article suggests that the Type 003 carrier would be conventionally powered and close to the 100,000-ton displacement carriers of the U.S.

January 27, 2021 On the day, the U.S. Congressional Services submitted a special study titled "China's Navy Modernization: Impact on the Capacity of the U.S. Navy - Congress and Issues in Congress."

The Type 003 carrier would be about 320 meters long and 40 meters wide at the waterline, close to the size of the U.S. Kitty Hawk-class carriers, and might have a displacement close to 80,000 tons. If confirmed, it would be the largest aircraft carrier ever built in Asia in terms of tonnage. According to analysis, Type 003 is likely to be launched in the second half of 2021, with later outfitting, installation of island radar and sensors, and mooring trials taking up to two years. In this case, the Type 003 carrier is likely to be delivered to the Navy in 2023-2024.

Article is expected that the Type 003 aircraft carrier will use conventional power, close to the US aircraft carrier with a displacement of 100,000 tons. The Type 003 aircraft carrier is about 320 meters long at the waterline and is about 40 meters wide, close to the size of the Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier, and may have a displacement of nearly 80,000 tons. If confirmed, this would be the largest tonnage aircraft carrier ever built in Asia. According to analysis, the 003 model will also be equipped with island radar and sensors, becoming the most advanced aircraft carrier in Asia.

Indian aircraft carrier Vikramathia

45,000 tonnes

45,000 tons

Length 262 m (860 ft)

Width 62m (203ft)

Aircraft carried

-40 Total aircraft, fixed-wing including 26 fixed-wing aircraft including Mikoyan MiG-29K

36-40 fixed-wing aircraft , including 26 fixed-wing aircraft, including Mikoyan MiG-29K

10 Helicopters

Gliding take-off and landing is used.

uses gliding to take off and land.

Comprehensive comparison

China's 003 aircraft carrier has nearly twice the displacement of India's aircraft carriers4

China's 003 aircraft carrier displacement is nearly twice the displacement of India's aircraft carriers

The Chinese carrier carries 40 J-15Ts, a heavy fighter, and will be equipped with fixed-wing early warning aircraft. The operational radius is 1270 km.

003 aircraft carrier has more heavy fighter , and will also be equipped with fixed wing early warning aircraft. The combat radius is 1270 km

The Indian carriers carry MiG 29Ks which are medium fighters with a combat radius of 600 km with gliding take-off

The Indian aircraft carriers are equipped with MiG 29K medium-sized fighter jets, with combat radius of only 600 km

The Chinese carriers can take off fighters from a distance of 1200 km and then launch an attack on the Indian carriers under the command of early warning aircraft.

Chinese aircraft carriers can take off fighter at 1,200 kilometers away, and then launch an attack on the enemy aircraft carrier under the command of early warning aircraft .

Indian carriers, on the other hand, need to get their fighters off to fight from 600 km away, without the command of an early warning aircraft.

Indian aircraft carriers need to let their fighters fight 600 kilometers away without the command of early warning aircraft.

That's no suspension in air combat.

If both sides encounter, one side of India will have no chance of winning in air battle.

The Chinese fighters can spot the Indian carriers and fighters from far enough away via early warning aircraft, and then India can only rely on the radar of the MiG 29k to search for the Chinese fighters on its own.

Chinese fighters can discover Indian aircraft and fighters far enough to be far enough through early warning aircraft, and then India can only search for Chinese fighters on its own through MiG 29k's radar .

Chinese aircraft carrier

Today's aircraft carrier competition is on the surface to expand its military equipment, but behind the scenes is a battle of technology and a game between great powers. Compared with India's buying and buying, China is taking a bumpy road of "strengthening the country with science and technology" and "strengthing the army with science and technology".

On September 25, 2012, the Liaoning aircraft carrier was officially delivered to the Chinese Navy. This is an aircraft carrier purchased by my country from foreign countries for a large amount of money. Since then, the Chinese Navy has ended the embarrassing era of no aircraft carriers.

In order to develop its own aircraft carrier, Chinese scientific researchers worked overtime, day and night, learning technology and exploring, and the soldiers risked their lives to test flights again and again. Finally, seven years later, in December 2019, the first domestic aircraft carrier Shandong ship was welcomed. Since then, my country has entered the era of "dual aircraft carriers".

Compared with Liaoning ship , Shandong ship is equipped with the latest technologies, including generator sets, integrated power systems, energy-saving and emission reduction devices, etc. These are all polished by Chinese scientific researchers one footprint at a time. With the Shandong ship, my country has finally caught up with the international first-class shipbuilding level. Until 2022, amid the high expectations, the launch of the Fujian Type 003 aircraft carrier was ushered in the launch. This breakthrough is inseparable from the selfless work of countless R&D personnel. It is also a reflection of our country's comprehensive national strength.

In contrast, India has been fascinated by the shortcut to "buy, buy, buy, buy" since its first aircraft carrier.

In the late 1950s, in order to show off its naval strength, India spent a huge amount of money to buy the Hercules from the former leader of the United Kingdom. This was an light aircraft carrier . After coming to India, it was renamed the "Vicrant". (In Indian, it means completely defeating those who dare to challenge me). Since then, India has become the first country in Asia to own an aircraft carrier.

But compared with China's domestic aircraft carriers, the aircraft carriers purchased by India are not only expensive, but also have harsh conditions. From the repair of the hull to the modification of the aircraft carrier, it is an astronomical figure every year. So much so that India once became a laughing stock in the aircraft carrier industry.