075 LHD thread
- Thread starter nosh
- Start date
Probably to save space to fit out the 3rd Type 075 no?
It seems like they expedited some of the work on the 1st 075 to get it out for testing quicker to debug any issues with the class early on.
But the surface of the runway seemed kind of thin for example. It will likely be resurfaced. I think it was rushed out a bit.
This way they can work on it at leisure and inspect the systems on the ship without interfering with the others down the pipeline.
It seems like they expedited some of the work on the 1st 075 to get it out for testing quicker to debug any issues with the class early on.
But the surface of the runway seemed kind of thin for example. It will likely be resurfaced. I think it was rushed out a bit.
This way they can work on it at leisure and inspect the systems on the ship without interfering with the others down the pipeline.
Not sure if this is the right place to ask but VTOL aircraft like the F-35B really augment helicopter carriers like the Wasp class by large margins. Does China have any plans to do the same for its 075? Seems like the 075 is very expensive as is. It's hard to imagine China using VTOL/STOVL given that its current capable platforms are all heavy fighters (unless the J-31 becomes official).
Seems unlikely, there are only going to be 3 Type075s, designing a VSTOL fighter seems not very economical.
Adding to what @silentlurker said, I'd like to think if STOVL were going to be looked into for the Type 075, perhaps it'd be more of a pressing need to develop that technology on a transport along the lines of an MV-22 Osprey, rather than a fighter? Just thought with the amount of Z-10s and Z-19s that will make up it's air wing, that the Type 075 packs quite the punch supporting troops on the battlefield.
I'm actually thinking more along the lines of the non-glamorous side of warfare - a STOVL transport would see an overlap in mission sets with the Z-18, but it would hypothetically have a larger payload in addition to increased range as well as quicker cruise speeds along the lines of a turboprop aircraft. In addition to getting troops quicker to the battlefield (while also along the Type 075 to remain at a less vulnerable standoff distance from any threats), STOVL transports would help facilitate logistics resupplying of the PLAN's carrier strike groups as well as other naval ships out at sea.
More importantly using the Type 075 as a political projection of power, STOVL transports could really come in handy for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions around Southeast Asia. I mean how cool would that be for China!
VSTOL is kind of niche. I could see China eventually designing a tilt-rotor aircraft like the V-22 or something like that. But China doesn't need to project power at the same types of distances as the US. In continental China they can move a lot of freight by high speed rail. What they don't move with rail they can use the Y-20 or Y-8. So helicopters on the 075 is just fine.
With regards to fighter or some kind of strike power if the PLAN do add small EMALS catapults for drones in future classes those would make sense. But VSTOL aircraft have too little usable payload to be cost effective.
A small EMALS would be a great middle ground although I'm not sure how/if that would work on a 075. Drones would be a great addition instead of VSTOL which would be a large investment.
I mean STOVL in the same sense of F-35B's where you have fighters with very capable sensors and very capable warfighting abilities to provide operations such as SEAD for the helicopters and etc. It adds another dimension to 075's capabilities. Adding a 5th gen VTOL would also give 075's a role in fleet defense too.
But I understand it would be incredibly expensive to develop.
Someone had the amazing idea of small EMALS for drones. That would provide similar capabilities as a STOVL while maybe not taking up as much room. Not too sure if that's possible for the 075.