Russia’s Only Aircraft Carrier Catches Fire Again, Lawmaker Proposes Buying China’s Liaoning Carrier

Russia’s only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, has been out of service for years while undergoing maintenance for chronic operational problems. In just the most recent mishap, a fire broke out on the carrier, a few days before Christmas, while undergoing … Continue reading

Update: China’s First Aircraft Carrier, Liaoning, Enters into Service

After ten sea trials and over 25 years of construction and refitting, China has put its first aircraft carrier into service.  Long rumored to be named Shi Lang, the carrier has instead been named Liaoning, after the province where it was rebuilt and refitted. … Continue reading

China to Open Luxury Hotel on Soviet Aircraft Carrier Kiev

The Chinese are opening a 148 room luxury hotel in the refurbished Russian aircraft carrier Kiev.  Since 2004, the aircraft carrier has been part  of what is billed as “the world’s biggest military theme park” in Tianjin, a municipality close to Beijing.   The Chinese … Continue reading

China’s First New-Old Aircraft Carrier Returns from Second Sea Trial

Last Sunday the first Chinese aircraft carrier returned from its second round of sea trials. The as of yet unnamed carrier, which reports suggest will be christened Shi Lang, was originally the unfinished Russian aircraft carrier Varyag whose keel was laid … Continue reading

From Varyag to Shi Lang – the Long Strange Voyage of China’s New Twenty Year Old Aircraft Carrier

In May, we posted about what appears to be the deck of an aircraft carrier built onto the top of a government building in China (China takes a Great Leap Forward in the Concrete Carrier Arms Race.)  Some speculated that … Continue reading