By Phenny Lynn Palec
For several years now, China has been quite busy investing in the modernization of its military weapons and hardware. China has thrown in massive amounts of investments towards this effort. Recently, military commentators and observers have noted that China's massive investments may finally see the light of day as the country readies itself to unveil new military weapons and hardware.
In the past few years, China has been quietly rolling out some of the key pieces of its military modernization project. Chief among these developments is the construction of the Chinese Type 001A carrier, this first carrier to be domestically built in China. Following its launch, the Type 001A has had three sea trials this year alone. China said that the carrier should be fully ready for deployment sometime next year.
In comparison, China's first carrier, the Liaoning, saw its first sea test in 2011 and was commissioned into service the year after.
The Type 001A is based on the Liaoning carrier. It is a 55,000-tonne ship considered under the Soviet Kuznetsov class vessel. Among the carrier's chief innovation are improved radar system and the most significant of all, the redesign of the ship's aircraft hangar which can now carry 322 J-15 fighter jets instead of 26. Much like its predecessor, the Type 001A retains the ski-jump take-off design on its bow.
China is also making headways in the development of destroyer ships. On top of the list is the Type 055 destroyer which is expected to be in service by 2019. China has been busy conducting sea trials for the Type 055 since August.
The Type 055 destroyer weighs in at 12,000-tonnes. It is a guided missile warship and exceeds the size of usual destroyers. Type 055 is expected to serve as primary escorts to carrier ships.
Recent reports claimed that China has conducted tests of its new JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The JL-3 is dubbed as the "great wave" and is expected to carry as much as 10 multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles or MIRVs. Each of these MIRVs can contain multiple nuclear warheads.
China has also confirmed the existence of its new strategic stealth bomber. Called the H-20, the Chinese state media described its development stage to be in "significant progress." The H-20 strategic stealth bomber will join China's People's Liberation Army Air Force by 2020. Despite heavy secrecy during its development, many believe that the H-20 will be significantly better than the H-6K which is China's current, and only, long-range nuclear-capable strategic bomber.
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