China moves forward with a flat top

In December of 1985, a keel was laid down in a Soviet shipyard for an Admiral Kuznetsov class multirole aircraft carrier. This was to be the second carrier of its kind produced. She was launched in 1988 and renamed in late 1990 as the Varyag after a famous Russian Cruiser. 

At this point you're probably thinking "Russia had aircraft carriers?" or "Who gives a fuck?"

Here's where things get interesting. Construction was stopped in 1992 and ownership was transferred to the Ukraine after the fall of the Soviet Union. In April of 1998 she was auctioned to the Republic of China under the condition that she was never refitted for combat. Stripped of its power plant and essentials for combat operations, the Chinese have been holding on to her for quite some time.

As of 2011, the Varyag has been renamed to the Shi Lang and is scheduled for sea testing later this year. A few years ago the Chinese were in a deal to purchase 50 carrier capable versions of the Su-33 fighter aircraft from the Russians but fortunately it never came to be due to Russia fearing that the Chinese would recreate the aircraft and sell them at a lower price thus hurting the weakened export trade for Russia. Although not currently being fitted for combat readiness (combat sensors and defensive weapons), US intelligence suggests that this carrier could dramatically shift the Asian influence for disputed islands and trade routes. 

Here is a comparison of the current Aircraft carriers in service from various countries (The Kuznetsov is the second largest): 

Rising above all of this, however, is the concern regarding China now in possession of a WORKING Soviet Heavy Aircraft Missile Carrier that is almost certainly going to be rearmed and refitted with combat systems and weapons. Steam and exhaust has been seen rising from the ship's island which confirms that her engines and propulsion will be fully operational very soon. It is unclear as to the aircraft type or numbers she will have stowed below the flat top when sea trials have been completed. Released Soviet information on the aircraft carrier suggests she can hold upwards of 50 various aircraft types including fighters, helicopters, and early warning spotter aircraft. 

This is her current state docked in China:

I'm concerned that this carrier could be the start of a new rise in Chinese naval production thus cementing China as the 2nd largest world super power. Russia currently has plans to bring their ONLY remaining flag ship carrier, the original Admiral Kuznetsov (same class as the sister ship Varyag/Shi Lang} in for a major refit, air wing expansion and modernization (angled deck with catapults and possibly a nuclear power plant) by 2012. Based on what we know, its safe to assume that Moscow is well aware of China's ambitions and is moving forward with being prepared for the worst. The largest problem the Shi Lang poses to the entire region is its capability to put itself in attack range of Russian, Japanese, South Korean, and U.S. military installations. While China has lightened up its aggressiveness towards U.S. Naval activity in Asian waters, this could just be the calm before the storm. 

The U.S. currently has plans for a new Super Carrier class (FORD) to replace various current Nimitz class carriers. 3 FORD class Super Carriers are planned with the first (CVN-78) to be completed by 2015. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the U.S. Naval Carrier program would shift to a 5 year build program suggesting that we could have as many as 40 FORD class Super Carriers on the water by 2040. The last of the Nimitz class carriers is not scheduled for decommission until 2058 but puts the current class on track for replacement by the new FORD class. There are 10 Nimitz class carriers currently in service with the USS Enterprise being the first scheduled to be decommissioned by 2013.

Anyone that didn't feel safe reading this up until I got to our bad ass Navy stats should feel a little better now.