The widest line on the catapult is still narrower than the J-35's line. Safe to say anything that will be onboard Type 076 will not be too large.
Type 076 LHD/LHA discussion
- Thread starter banjex
- Start date
The Sichuan LHD lacks the optical landing system (OLS) (left/top), which is typically found on proper, non-S/VTOL CVs (right/bottom) that would enable manned aircraft to conduct BAR operations.
However, Sichuan is equipped with the precision approach-landing system on the aft island superstructure (left/top), which is meant for directing UAVs during BAR operations. The system is also found on the aft part of the island superstructure on Fujian CV (right/bottom).
That is, I don't see the Sichuan basing manned fixed-wing aircrafts unless under extraordinary situations.
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Again, I don't see anywhere in my post that said you'd want to use it for regular operation. But let's say you are out in the sea with CV-18 and for whatever reason (let's say in a conflict) you cannot land a J-35 at the moment, then landing on Type 076 would be a better choice than keeping it circling in the air.
Since there will be scenarios like that, you actually need to verify that you can take off and land manned aircraft.
That would require Sichuan's ACLS to be certified for guiding manned aircrafts to land on Sichuan - While the pilots do not have any OLS to rely upon. We don't know if that's even the case here, to begin with.
And despite the prevelance and usefulness of ACLS, the OLS is still equipped onboard every non-STOVL carriers for plenty of good reasons.
So unless we have clear indications or evidence of Sichuan's associated systems are perfectly capable of permitting BAR operations of manned fixed-wing aircrafts, and/or unless/until the ACLS has become good enough such that OLS is rendered fully redundant across all scenarios (which isn't going to be the case for at least quite a while), then I think it'd be better to be safe and conservative WRT such discussions.
And frankly speaking - The scenario which you've listed isn't exactly "extraordinary" enough to warrant a landing on Sichuan. There are other options (such as mid-air tanking with friendly assets) available which is better and more easily to be achievable than actually attempting on the LHD right away.
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A more direct comparison of the landing gear calibration lines between Sichuan (left) and Fujian (right), with both photos (roughly) on the same scale. Posted by @Rational314159 on Twitter.
As seen, the seperation between the lines on Sichuan is much narrower than those on Fujian.
As seen, the seperation between the lines on Sichuan is much narrower than those on Fujian.
What this does show is at least 3 different types of CATOBAR U(C)AV are expected to be used. GJ-21, WZ-10 (probable) and...something else.
Yes. And to be honest, I do expect more types to come in the future, which can be rotationally deployed from the 076 LHD based on mission requirements.
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That's to be seen, right? If what I listed in there is not extraordinary enough, there could be more extraordinary scenarios that would require landing & take off. Whether PLAN makes the decision to certify manned aircraft is based on its own risk assessment.
And I'm not going to bother arguing further on this topic, since we won't know the answer for quite some time.