I often wonder, can we equip two STOBARs with 076 to catapult KJ600, GJ21, and perform some heavy-load takeoff missions?
Type 076 LHD/LHA discussion
- Thread starter banjex
- Start date
Cost/benefit trade off suggests this won't be done. I can see J-35s (and ASW helos) being offloaded to the poverty-ramp carriers because they can take off via the cope slope in stealth mode without much or any penalty, leaving more space on the EMCAT equipped carriers for aircraft that need (KJ-600, GJ-21) or benefit (J-15 variants) from CATOBAR.
Otherwise the ramp CVs are basically limited to near seas where they can be supported by land-based AEW/MPA. Helo-borne AEW is inherently limited by altitude and radar size.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
No. I just don't see KH600s being part of 076's airwing component. Maybe in some extreme scenarios but certainly not under normal circumstances
Then they would have designed a light carrier rather than an LHD with capacity for marine troops, vehicles and a well for launching boats. All of this extra capacity goes to waste if type 076 is used as a light carrier.
That 7 number in code have meaning, of course; otherwise it will be some notional 005 class Carrier.
But US ASW Essexes(more or less comparable) carried E-1s and S-2s without issues.
With EMCAT it's just ok.
No.
And while the EMCAT should be capable of launching the J-35 (since the EMCAT on Sichuan LHD has the same length as those on Fujian CV), the problem lies more with the landing (where the barricade system on the Sichuan looks to be shorter in height than those on the Fujian).
Hence, no, I don't see how this is anywhere remotely close to indicate that the J-35 can operate from Sichuan.
No. Our primary source of information on the upcoming PLAN shipbuilding plans went quiet more than a year ago, and has not been heard from since.
What's the point of launching fighters from an lhd?
It makes sense if you only send 1 lhd to a fight and that lhd has to provide its own air cover.
China's main opponents are all powerful countries with good navy and air force. I doubt China will be sending just 1 lhd to fight and take over island bases when fighting these countries.
China will probably need to send multiple lhd, lpd in one big assault group likely escorted by atleast 1 proper carrier for air protection.
I think we will have to wait and see which type of mock aircraft appears on the deck in the coming months. I think many of us would like to see a man aircraft as it will at least make it superficially a gator aircraft carrier as well. Maybe it is more fanboyism than reality. I think a whole new set of landing training would be necessary for straight deck landing so I don't think it is as easily as pulling any pilots from the slant deck carriers. I think a slant deck LHA as seen in some fan rendition would of make more sense if they wanted a ship to do dual roles.