Corona Virus Outbreak Engulfs Chinese Aircraft Carrier
Wuhan is home to many Chinese weapons and equipment design and manufacturing institutes, like Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group that builds submarines, and the Naval University of Engineering, which is developing advanced naval technologies like the electromagnetic catapult, railgun, full electric propulsion, and submarine-related technologies.
Therefore China’s aircraft carrier program is likely to take a big hit because of the latest spread of Corona Virus. According to statements released by the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, which is reportedly building China’s third aircraft carrier, and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, maker of the J-15 carrier-based fighter jet in Northeast China’s Liaoning Province, have extended the Spring Festival holiday.
They have asked employees who travelled to other cities since the virus outbreak not to return to work until further notice, or quarantine themselves at home for 14 days. This will result in delays in the construction of the new aircraft carrier and the fighter jets.
The Coronavirus outbreak could thus have a major impact on China’s defence modernisation plans, as Beijing has decided to slow down the pace of key defence production programme including those in Wuhan, the epicentre of the disease.
Top Chinese defence companies have postponed planned work, in order to concentrate on controlling the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
As of 2020, the People’s Liberation Army Navy has one near ready aircraft carrier the Shandong and one old junkboat, the Liaoning, with the third under construction. It is being boasted that China may possess five or six aircraft carriers by the 2030s.
China initially intended to acquire Russian Sukhoi Su-33 aircraft for operations from its aircraft carriers. However, it later developed the Shenyang J-15 as a derivative of the Su-33, featuring Chinese technology and avionics. Though it seems that J15 are having super problems which PLAN is finding it difficult to rectify.
Xu Guangyu, a senior adviser to the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told China’s Global Times on Monday that the Coronavirus outbreak would have an impact on China’s weapons and equipment programs. However every one is hoping that it would be short-term, as the virus is expected to last only for a few months at worst. Prioritising the health and safety of people is absolutely the right course to avoid fatalities, as well as mitigate any long-term impact, Xu said. This shows that things are quite in bad shape.
