---

(Click on any image for a larger picture)

---

Ongoing exercises of the many new units the PLAN has introduced into its fleets continues to improve their performance and ability to operaate cohesively with their new technology, particularly as surface action groups and task forces. This will continue at an increased tempo once their new carrier is launched and introduced into the fleet.

In addition, right at the end of the year, the PLAAF rolled out for taxi tests its first prototype stealth fighter, the J-20. This was sooner than most analysts had expected and intorduces the Chinese into the fifth generation stealth fighter areana.

These developments represent continued and significant progress by the PLAN in establishing itself as a blue water presence, capable of extending itself far from its coasts, out to and beyond the 2nd island chain. They have continued to demonstrate their ability to do this and sustain strong surface action task forces in the international effort to control the piracy off the Somali coast, maintaining warships and replenishment ships in the area over long periods of time.

The PLAAF 1st Prototype Stealth Fighter, the J-20, in Taxi tests

On January 11th, the PLAAF conducted a test flight of the new fighter. As there has been a lot of speculation and comparison, here are a set of images comparing the USAF F-22 Raptor (which has been produced in numbers of about 180 to date), with the PLAAF J-20:

USAF F-22 RAPTOR

PLAAF J-20 STEALTH FIGHTER

Finally, in addition, as stated in last year's update of 2010, the PLAN continues to build all of the support aircraft and structres necessary to project their growing naval forces. They are keeping in line with their own stated purposes of extending their power and ability to protect their interests out well beyond their coatsal waters, out to and beyond the second Island chain in the western Pacific. As one of their leaders lately stated, “In the coming five years, our military will push forward preparations for military conflict in every strategic direction,” said Liang Guanglie in an interview published by several state-backed newspapers in China. “We may.be living in peaceful times, but we can never forget war, never send the horses south or put the bayonets and guns away,” Liang added. The PLAN is developing its systems and support systems in line with these sentiments.

Clearly the overall trend shows that the PLAN continues to rapidly close the gap between itself and the US Navy, and particualrly when focusing on the Western Pacific, which is where the PLAN is concentrated. This is a trend that continues to be worthy of serious contemplation for future US Navy and other western nation's planning and acquisition schedules.