00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread

[Kalec]

Could you please add a translation or summary since most here don't speak Chinese!?

Rough translation:
A: Is that CV19 on the right? (Referring satellite image of Type-003)
Pop3: Fourth Aircraft carrier? Don't even think about it, construction hasn't even started yet, the design process is not finished yet.
B: Holy F**k, last year you said the nuclear carriers were making good progress, but it turned out to be still in design process?
Pop3: Only fanboys talk about the progress after segment appeared in shipyard. But the actual process is project establishment, the subsequent technical design, construction design and so on, to the platform or dock stage, the whole process is already halfway over.
And after the launch of the first ship, there is still testing. Generally it is called expanded test, test for strategic weapons such as CVs is called national test.

A: No. 4 CV can't be completely overhauled, right? (Suggesting the change on Type. 003)
Pop3: The plan set (by Project 048 probably) at that time was "two steps and three stages".
"Two steps" are first modified and then domestic.
"Three stages" are the Ski jump, two steam catapults and then nuclear power.
However, the reality didn't come as planned, as CV-17 was added out of the original plan.
After that, the electromagnetic catapult came out, this is another change, the central military commission decided to stall the construction of the CV18 for one year, to order Institute No.1 (?) to modify the design and then resume construction.
The fourth ship will be now nuclear-powered.

 

[Kalec]

Here come another one, minutes ago posted by Pop3 in the same thread.

Let me explain myself:

CV-17, also known as Shandong, was "added" because the top authorities did not trust navy and CSSC, and instructed navy to go ahead with the imitation and not innovation. This makes navy and CSSC very angry.
I am 100% responsible for my words, because I have written and video evidences, which I have said before.
If you want me to prove it. Simple. I can send them to Gun&Rose and Black Fatty (probably two moderators in the forum) to confirm, but I dare not to disclose them to others.

The third CV was planned to have steam catapults, the product from Shanghai Hengshan Road No.10 (Dunno what it is), monitored by PLA HQ but not by navy at that time.
Steam catapult was very successful, so (HQ) signed the CV-18 construction contract, which stated to be steam catapult.
But electromagnetic catapult development progress was too fast to make the top authorities faced with a dilemma.
Finally, the top authorities decided to suspend the construction of CV-18 for one year to carry out design modifications, and gave a firm order to the No.1 Institute, who completed the task well.

A similar situation has not happened before, but the probability of it happening over the years is higher, and it also happened during the development of Type 055 destroyer.
But this is a good thing, a very proud good thing, showing that our technology is surging forward, the technical progress is overlapping up.

I am very familiar with the vertical-launched missile (referring YJ-20) appeared recently in the official clip, but I definitely won't disclose anything about it.

 

[Intrepid]

That all sounds very plausible.

It's good to have a plan. It's better to keep adjusting your plan.

 

[kriss]

The rumors were that naval reactors were to be first tested on a stationary off-shore platform, then followed by testing on a 'special purpose' vessel. Allegedly the offshore platform has been in service for a while now, and the special purpose vessel was supposed to be completed by 2020. The pandemic might have delayed the timeline a bit, but I suspect the special purpose vessel too has been finished and handed over by now.

You might as well quoting Minnie Chan if you think any "rumor" from that fraud has any credibility worth discussion here.

 

[lcloo]

Pardon me as a newcomer here, but who/what is pop3?

And why is pop3 regarded as a more reliable source? Is he/she/it an insider of the PLAN?

And may I know where to find the pop3 website/account?

Pop3 is a retired major colonel in PLA Navy, after his retirement from navy he kept on working involving development and research of naval ship buildings in a shipyard.

These are his personal item, including two strike three stars (Major colonel), award and certificate of appreciation from CSSC and PLAN for his sceintific works in CSSC shipyard.

 

[by78]

If they test it on a nuclear icebreaker first then it will be at least 5-6 years before they can even start on the next carrier.

And this opinion of yours is based on what exactly? Don't tell me you also have advanced degrees in nuclear engineering and naval architecture, in addition to your degrees in engineering physics and astronautics.

Just how many advanced degrees do you have, and where did you get them? Come on, would you please finally name your alma maters?

 

[gelgoog]

They might have been mad at CV-17. But I think the state made the right call. The Soviets also had the same dilemma with the Tu-4 program. And Stalin rammed the design bureau to just copy the B-29 instead of designing their own aircraft. The technology was progressively refined and later led to the Tu-85 and later Tu-95 program. It would have been a bad idea to try to make a whole new design and new build at same time. This way they refined the construction technique while relying on a mostly known to work design. And now they got the construction technique well established, they can go into a new design. Had they gone for the steam catapult design first they would have also designed a dead end technology once EMALS came out. Might have decided to stick with steam catapults for longer than necessary. EMALS technology can be used in other smaller carrier projects. Like drone carriers. So it has more future potential.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

This is my attempt at summing up what pop3 said so far:

1. The 4th carrier for the PLAN, CV-19 would be nuclear powered. That should mean CV-19 is Type 004.

2. The 4th aircraft carrier for the PLAN, CV-19 is still in design and development stages. (Not sure about construction, because foreign sources has said that the construction has already begun?)

3. After Liaoning CV-16, the PLAN and CSSC originally planned to go right ahead with CATOBAR with steam catapults for the 2nd carrier, CV-17. However, the government leadership (here I presume CMC?) said no, and tell them to copy-paste from Liaoning first for the CV-17. So the CATOBAR carrier plan was pushed towards the 3rd carrier, i.e. CV-18.

4. CV-18 was originally planned to have steam catapults as the R&D is completed, but EMALS catapult's R&D work progress is also good, prompting the government leadership (here I presume CMC?) to delay the construction of CV-18 by one year in order to allow design changes for the steam catapults to be replaced with EMALS catapult on CV-18.

5. Not a single word about the YJ-XY missile.

I gotta say that the sudden decision to replace steam with EMALS during construction of a conventionally-powered supercarrier is truly a bold action to take.

Please correct my summary if there's any mistake in it.

 

[Michaelsinodef]

I gotta say that the sudden decision to replace steam with EMALS during construction of a conventionally-powered supercarrier is truly a bold action to take.

It def is bold, but it's probably safe to say that they have tested it a lot, not to mention chinese shipbuilding ability is really good nowadays, so the modifications should be ok.

If anything, just goes to show how much progress is being made in tech (kinda surprising the US isn't trying to say assassinate Ma Weiming lol, although I suppose that would open a nasty can of worms).

Please correct my summary if there's any mistake in it.

Not really any.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

It def is bold, but it's probably safe to say that they have tested it a lot, not to mention chinese shipbuilding ability is really good nowadays, so the modifications should be ok.

Agreed.

To be honest, I was expecting that Type 003-class would consist of two ships instead of just one, since the construction of the second Type 003-class would give much needed time for CSSC and PLAN to develop and finalize the nuclear marine propulsion system. Seems like China has made good progress on this field such that they judge a 2nd conventionally-powered supercarrier is unnecessary.

Lets' hope China can field at least 4 operational carriers (optimally 5) by 2030.

If anything, just goes to show how much progress is being made in tech (kinda surprising the US isn't trying to say assassinate Ma Weiming lol, although I suppose that would open a nasty can of worms).

If this is really attempted, China would immediately know that the US is behind it.

Furthermore, even if something bad suddenly happens to Ma (such as illness, accident etc), there are loads of capable naval shipbuilding engineers that are working underneath Ma who could take over his job and continue his work.

China is neither Iran nor North Korea. Remember that China has the backing of 1.4 billion people, and China also leads highest STEM graduate output worldwide by a huge margin.

The worst that could come out of this endavour would be the delaying of the work by a few months at most.

Trying to stop your enemy with such nefarious act would only embolden and strengthening their will and resolve even further to surpass and ultimately overwhelm you.