The Pentagon said in its annual report on China that Liaoning is not expected to
embark an operational air wing until 2015 and the first indigenous aircraft carrier is unlikely to be operational until early part of next decade.
The report added that the PLAAF is pursuing modernization on a scale unprecedented in its history and is rapidly closing the gap with Western air forces across a broad spectrum of capabilities.
The Pentagon believe that if China buys the Su-35, the fighter could enter service in 2016 or 2018.
Furthermore, the Pentagon believes China’s “J-20 is not expected to enter service prior to 2018, and China faces numerous challenges to achieving full operational capability, including developing high-performance jet engines.”