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ANNUAL REPORT

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210<br />

Second aircraft carrier confirmed: In December 2015, a Chinese<br />

Ministry of National Defense spokesperson confirmed for the<br />

first time that China’s second aircraft carrier (Type 001A) is under<br />

construction. 135 He did not give a timeline for construction. 136 The<br />

new carrier will have a conventional power plant and a ski jump<br />

ramp rather than a powered catapult launch system. 137 The ski<br />

jump ramp will limit the carrier’s capabilities by restricting the<br />

launch weight of its fighters. 138 Satellite imagery indicated that as<br />

of August 2016, construction of the new carrier was nearly complete.<br />

139 China could build multiple additional aircraft carriers<br />

over the next 15 years. 140 According to DOD, ‘‘China’s next generation<br />

of carriers will probably be capable of improved endurance and<br />

of launching more varied types of aircraft, including [electronic<br />

warfare], early warning, and [antisurface warfare], thus increasing<br />

the potential striking power of a [PLA Navy] ‘carrier battle group’<br />

in safeguarding China’s interests in areas beyond its immediate periphery.’’<br />

141<br />

Su-35 fighter purchase: In November 2015, Russia and China<br />

signed a $2 billion contract for Russia to deliver 24 Su-35 (FLANK-<br />

ER–E) multirole jet fighters to China. 142 The Su-35, with its advanced<br />

avionics and targeting and passive electronically scanned<br />

array radar systems, will improve China’s air-to-air and strike capabilities.<br />

143 Moreover, the aircraft’s long range (reportedly approximately<br />

2,200 mi with internal fuel and 2,800 mi with auxiliary<br />

fuel tanks) will enhance the PLA’s ability to project force in<br />

the South China Sea and Western Pacific. 144 The Su-35 is capable<br />

of firing advanced antisurface and air-to-air missiles. 145 China<br />

most likely will attempt to reverse engineer components of the Su-<br />

35—particularly its advanced turbofan engine—to aid indigenous<br />

jet fighter production. 146 The Su-35 could enter service in 2018. 147<br />

Type 072A tank landing ship production: The PLA Navy<br />

commissioned three Type 072A tank landing ships * (see Figure 5)<br />

from May 2015 to January 2016, bringing the PLA Navy’s Type<br />

072A fleet to 12 ships. 148 The Type 072A can carry 10 tanks, 4<br />

landing craft (such as China’s Zubr [POMORNIK] hovercraft), and<br />

250 soldiers, and has a helicopter landing pad. 149 The resumption<br />

of production could suggest Beijing wants to increase its force projection<br />

capabilities for contingencies in the South and East China<br />

seas. It may also signal to Taiwan’s new Democratic Progressive<br />

Party-led government that Beijing is willing to take Taiwan by<br />

force. 150<br />

dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with USCC<br />

* Tank landing ships are designed to carry vehicles and troops to shore during amphibious<br />

operations.<br />

VerDate Sep 11 2014 12:16 Nov 02, 2016 Jkt 020587 PO 00000 Frm 00120 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6601 G:\GSDD\USCC\2016\FINAL\06_C1_C2_M.XXX 06_C1_C2_M

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