DefenceTalkChina on Friday launched its biggest and most modern aircraft carrier, marking a major military advance for the Asian superpower. The announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and the United States over Beijing’s saber-rattling towards Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province to be seized by force if necessary. China’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-launches-third-aircraft-carrier-in-major-military-milestone-78988/

DefenceTalkOfficially it is just a research vessel, but China’s newly unveiled drone carrier is a clear sign Beijing is rushing to deploy an autonomous swarm of unmanned devices in its push for military supremacy in the Pacific Ocean. State media last month showed the launching of the Zhu Hai Yun — “Zhu Hai Cloud” — […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinas-drone-carrier-hints-at-swarm-ambitions-for-pacific-78911/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkChina would not have exclusive access to a Cambodian naval base, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday, despite Beijing chipping in for upgrades after a US-funded facility was razed at the site last month. The Ream base is strategically located in the Gulf of Thailand, providing ready access to the fiercely contested South China Sea […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cambodian-pm-says-naval-base-not-just-for-china-76437/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalk China’s indigenously-developed AG600 large amphibious aircraft succeeded in its maiden flight over sea on Sunday morning in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, its developer announced. The aircraft took off from the sea off Qingdao at 10:18 a.m. and completed the test flight after flying for about 31 minutes, said state-owned plane-maker Aviation Industry Corporation […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinas-ag600-seaplane-makes-maiden-flight-from-sea-76039/

DefenceTalkTAIPEI, Taiwan: China’s navy just learned from a monthlong aircraft carrier training mission how to keep troops safe from COVID-19 and what it would be like to spar with Japan or Taiwan, analysts believe. The Liaoning aircraft carrier returned to port in eastern China April 30 after passing through western Pacific waters near Taiwan and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/two-advances-for-chinese-navy-after-monthlong-aircraft-carrier-voyage-near-japan-taiwan-75400/

China’s second aircraft carrier entered service on Tuesday, adding major firepower to its military ambitions as it faces tensions with self-ruled Taiwan as well as the US and regional neighbours around the disputed South China Sea. The commissioning of the warship, named the Shandong, puts China in a small club of nations with multiple aircraft […]

DefenceTalkChina needs “at least three aircraft carriers” to protect its extensive coastline and its interests abroad, a senior Chinese naval expert said Wednesday. “Our country has an 18,000-kilometre (11,000-mile) long coastline. Also, our economy is outward looking and our interests abroad are growing,” said Commodore Zhang Junshe, a member of the Naval Research Institute. “All […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-needs-at-least-three-aircraft-carriers-naval-expert-72021/

DefenceTalkThe Netherlands government has today approved the national plan on the NATO Defence Investment Pledge. This plan includes the government commitment to designate additional funds from the national budget next spring. As part of this commitment, the government intends to increase defence spending. The security environment has become more unstable. This calls for additional investment […]https://www.defencetalk.com/netherlands-government-approves-nato-national-plan-71989/

DefenceTalkChina is likely to use an electromagnetic catapult for fighter jets on its third aircraft carrier, experts said on Thursday. The world’s leading electromagnetic catapult technology was developed by a team led by Ma Weiming, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a Beijing-based expert, who asked for anonymity, told the Global Times on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-readying-new-catapult-for-3rd-aircraft-carrier-71100/

DefenceTalkChina’s second aircraft carrier might conduct its first sea trials in February, military analysts said after Taiwan media reported that China’s first aircraft carrier the Liaoning sailed near the island on Friday. China launched its second aircraft carrier in April 2017 after the Liaoning, a refitted Soviet Union-made carrier that went into commission in 2012. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinas-second-aircraft-carrier-to-hold-first-sea-trials-71030/