00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread

[Blitzo]

Can the 003a really still finish construction before 004 if they're only starting to clear space for it now? This would be starting more than a year later if I'm not mistaken.

In addition to what Tomboy wrote about construction methods, if the CVN at DL is bigger, and more complex than the CV at JN, and if the CVN at DL is... well nuclear powered as the name entails, then yeah it is plausible the CVN could happen to end up making more time such that despite its earlier appearance it reaches key milestones later.

 

[00CuriousObserver]

But do they really need a 003A right now or ASAP? Three carriers are more than enough for current potential endeavours.

It's better off to go for a future-proofed option that isn't constrained by an outdated, immature hull design.

How many carriers do you think are needed in a Taiwan contingency and the related WESTPAC HIC? Quite a few, I'd say. Even if there is a PLANS-21 (i.e. 4 flattops + Shandong/Liaoning), some might argue it's not enough.

Given the time required for carriers to reach combat readiness, the potential geopolitical climate in 10 years, as well as China's internal politics (Xi's 4th/5th term and how that relates), imo there is absolutely a "rush".

I also would not be surprised if it's a clean-sheet design tbh. A lot of time has passed since Fujian’s design, and they have an 80k ton carrier as reference, even if this new design is "clean-sheet".

 

[Blitzo]

But do they really need a 003A right now or ASAP? Three carriers are more than enough for current potential endeavours.

It's better off to go for a future-proofed option that isn't constrained by an outdated, immature hull design.

How many carriers do you think are needed in a Taiwan contingency and the related WESTPAC HIC? Quite a few, I'd say. Even if there is a PLANS-21 (i.e. 4 flattops + Shandong/Liaoning), some might argue it's not enough.

Given the time required for carriers to reach combat readiness, the potential geopolitical climate in 10 years, as well as China's internal politics (Xi's 4th/5th term and how that relates), imo there is absolutely a "rush".

I also would not be surprised if it's a clean-sheet design tbh. A lot of time has passed since Fujian’s design, and they have an 80k ton carrier as reference, even if this new design is "clean-sheet".

I think the linchpin (or at least, one of the major linchpins) behind all of this talk about what the configuration of JN's CV will be, needs to be predicated on us not knowing whether they plan to build any additional conventionally powered CVs after JN's CV, or if they will go all nuclear.

That unknowable -- and I do indeed view it as an unknowable, because there are reasonable arguments for and against an all-nuclear carrier fleet vs a mixed-propulsion carrier fleet -- could make one configuration versus the other be sensible or not sensible.

View attachment 164384

Is like island?

Unlikely.
It's way too early to see the island already fabricated.

 

[Blitzo]

your Image… View attachment 164365

This is what the configuration of reactor shielding within the hulls of recent USN CVNs look like, for sake of reference.

The appearance is fairly distinctive.

 

[00CuriousObserver]

Jiangnan Shipyard Interior Department Director Qiao Jia: (China's future aircraft carrier) Bigger, faster, more carrier-based aircraft, more intelligent

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1988274387288813648

 

[Wrought]

This is better asked in the Liaoning thread to not drift away this key thread but I think in 2012, it has a midlife overhaul so it will operate for another 30-35 years, plenty long time for the 6-carriers plan

Just to be clear, the MLU was completed early last year.

Importantly another mockup also started to appear on carrier Liaoning

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. The first PLAN aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2012, was then just completing her midlife refit (MLU) and has since completed a first post-MLU sea trial. This appearance heavily hints at PLAN intentions to operate this new generation fighter from both the existing STOBAR-carriers and new catapult equipped hulls. Such a step seems logical also in light of PLAN’s requirement to complement and eventually replace its Russian-legacy J-15 across all carriers.

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