Fourth carrier of Type 003 or Type 004? I don't expect China to build a new Type carrier until they have a good handle in the use of their Type 003. 2030 is likely the earliest when the Type 004 carrier rolls out.
00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread
- Thread starter AETHER
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Fourth carrier of Type 003 or Type 004? I don't expect China to build a new Type carrier until they have a good handle in the use of their Type 003. 2030 is likely the earliest when the Type 004 carrier rolls out.
There was a quote from an outfitter of the Type 003 that was basically: “We are taking our time to to get the process right so it’s better for next time”.
To me this indicates the Type 003 hull will be built several times, otherwise they would not pay so much attention to optimizing processes for multiple productions.
It would be extremely nice if the Type 003 hull could support either Nuclear or Conventional propulsion.
To me this indicates the Type 003 hull will be built several times, otherwise they would not pay so much attention to optimizing processes for multiple productions.
It would be extremely nice if the Type 003 hull could support either Nuclear or Conventional propulsion.
Liaoning and Shandong are entirely different beasts though. Retrofitting a carrier hull for service and creating a hull from scratch are completely different processes. Not to say that the 004 won't be a sister to Fujian, but if the trend holds then the 004 should be entirely different. We'll really only see a 004 that's identical to the 003 if the PLAN are essentially completely happy with the 003's performance.
hmmm, so your thinking is not different from mine?
I think that the 004 is more likely nuclear than anything. There's honestly a lot of tech on the Fujian that is probably considerably newer tech than nuclear reactors for aircraft carriers on that ship (at least following the US's carrier development history), and so I think that we're much more likely to see the 004 be a nuclear reactor in the Fujian's displacement class than yet another testbed for increasingly cutting-edge technology. China already has nuclear reactors for submarines, after all, whilst things like tinier islands, more backwards-facing islands, and novel sensors are things that will have to be developed from the ground up.
I think they will start building Type 004 sooner rather than later. China is presently building the ACP100/Linglong One reactor at Hainan island. The technology used to make that nuclear reactor is similar to that required for the one in the carrier. The reactor will have 125 MWe power.
This is the multi-purpose modular small reactor announced by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) at the same time when the aircraft carrier Fujian was launched.
This is also an innovative leap with Chinese characteristics, introducing the concept of "mobile power".
After the nuclear reactor is miniaturized and modularized, it can be easily installed or disassembled.
In CNNC's own words, this device can be carried on submarines, ships, rockets and other devices.
If these miniaturesd and modulised mini reactors are proven repeatedly workable, China will be a step closer to nuclear powered carriers.
China misses no important technology to build a nuclear-powered carrier. China is operating nuclear-powered warships since 1974. It is the biggest manufacturer of nuclear reactors as of 2022. It doesn't have nuclear-powered aircraft carriers because the carrier program wasn't a priority and the PLA wanted to progress step by step. I find both decisions very wise. As soon as the PLA feels ready, we will see the nuclear powered carrier. I think the 4th carrier will be nuclear. The 003 has everything except nuclear propulsion. It will enable PLAN to optimize the layout of a CATOBAR carrier. They didn't even develop a modern gas turbine propulsion system for the 003. They definitely don't plan to build many 003s.