Aircraft Carriers II (Closed to posting)

Flat Decks worth mentioning that I encountered last week at Euronaval

DCNS' Evolved Aircraft Carrier




LPD For Algerian Navy


Fincantieri 20,000 t multifonction ship


St Marine Endurance 160 class


Euronaval 2012 pic gallery (200+ pics):


If you have questions on non-carrier related stuff, post them here:
http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/world-armed-forces/euronaval-2012-a-6182.html

navyreco said:

Flat Decks worth mentioning that I encountered last week at Euronaval

DCNS' Evolved Aircraft Carrier

Euronaval 2012 pic gallery (200+ pics):

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

If you have questions on non-carrier related stuff, post them here:
http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/world-armed-forces/euronaval-2012-a-6182.html

Click to expand...

Who would float the evolved Aircraft Carrier? Oh and thanks for posting Reco, I wouldn't have seen these otherwise.

Air Force Brat said:

Who would float the evolved Aircraft Carrier?

Click to expand...

France, Maybe Brazil...

The goal with these carrier concepts is mainly to keep DCNS' R&D offices and people running in order to remain capable of making 1 or 2 carriers to replace CdeG and also to answer possible export requests...

This is the status of the X-47 UCAV program as of July 19th 2012

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The Navy is one year away from landing its first unmanned jet aircraft aboard a carrier after completing the most recent round of surrogate tests aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).





Using prototype UCAV software installed on a F/A-18D, a series of surrogate landings have been successfully completed on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

“Demonstrating our concept of operations and making sure the carrier segment is performing as advertised is a huge milestone for the program,” said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, Navy UCAS program manager. “The crew, equipment, and program team performed exceptionally well during all planned test events and the Harry S Truman is ready for our next phase of X-47B testing.”

Last year, the team conducted surrogate testing aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) with a manned F/A-18 to evaluate ship systems, avionics systems and early versions of the unmanned vehicle software. The team is now back at sea aboard Truman with the F/A-18 aircraft, testing precision landing performance with the latest X-47B software and hardware configuration.

The purpose of the UCAS-D carrier integration effort is to mature precision carrier-landing technologies for unmanned systems and digitize the communications and navigation information flow,” Engdahl said. “Since the X-47B is unmanned, the aircraft operates using digital messages from the mission operator and shipboard controllers, rather than through verbal instructions. The carrier requires modification for unmanned flight operations, and the integration effort performs these in a way that minimally affects existing hardware, training and procedures.

Throughout the remainder of 2012, the Navy UCAS program will conduct carrier suitability and system performance testing with both X-47B aircraft at Pax River. These tests will include arrested landings, catapult launches, and flight deck operations at the land-based facility and establish the aircraft’s ability to conduct precision approaches to the aircraft carrier......"

(Note) Tests like these are the holy grail for Chinese navy path of achieving flight operations aboard the Liaoning. Time and time again we have heard references to how the PLAN will use this path to leapfrog into carrier operations by using automated methods like these. However they will lack several key pieces of infrastructure to make automated precision carrier landings a reality and will continue to lack for the foreseeable future




A U.S. Navy F/A-18D surrogate aircraft emulated an autonomous, unmanned aircraft as it performed several approaches to arrested landings on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on 2 July. That F/A -18 while manned was flown in a "hands off" configuration during the landing tests. ( A brave pilot indeed!)

The carrier landing test included the use of new Precision GPS and Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT), which is being developed for the Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) Programme. The Precision GPS and TTNT, intended to provide guidance and control, is being developed by an industry team working with the Navy.

The full test spanned 10 days of flights, between June 27 and July 6, and employed the F/A-18 and a King Air surrogate aircraft. During that time, the test logged more than 42 flight hours in the F/A-18 and King Air surrogates, as well as 64 successful approaches using two different approach profiles with the UCAS-D system.

Three operators on board the Eisenhower during the 10-day UCAS-D surrogate aircraft test–serving as CATCC controller, Air Boss, and Landing Signal Officer (LSO)–are engineers at ARINC Inc., headquartered in Annapolis, Md. Other ARINC personnel served as: Aviation/Ship Integration (A/SI) Test Lead on the ship, Beach Detachment Lead ashore, and PGPS Lead ashore.

An interview with the prospective commanding officer of the ship, Captain Robert Hall, Jr. He discuses integration with new technologies briefly. They mention three other interviews with other officers regarding USS America as well, I am not sure if they have published them yet or not. I m not seeing links to them.

Please remove the space after the 'h' and first 'w' for the link.
h ttp://w ww.sldinfo.com/captain-hall-discusses-the-uss-america-looking-towards-the-future/

Air Force Brat said:

Who would float the evolved Aircraft Carrier? Oh and thanks for posting Reco, I wouldn't have seen these otherwise.

Click to expand...

Well, perhaps the Indians will, or Brazilians.

The Indians have already launched the hull of their first ADC in Cochin.


and they are now ready to start the second one. That vessel looks a lot like a the flat deck, catobar version of the first one that they intend for the second, they would be well served to team up with DCN and build it in Cochin.

Here's how the Vikrant will look...seems very close:

bd popeye said:

The X-47B is a long way from being deployed on a CVN.. A long way.

First off there are only two aircraft built. Two.

Second there's no funding in place to build any others. Zero green American dollars.

Third.. the first carrier quals are due to take place sometime next year..that's the plan..

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Yep, the initial contract called for a six-year $635.8 million contract developing of two fighter-sized, long-range, high endurance aircraft designated .

Test activities are currently in progress (as seen in numerous photos on this board and the subject of an entiore thread of its own) that will lead to completion of the Navy's carrier launch and recovery objectives by 2013.

Successful completion of those at-sea trials will set the stage for potential follow-on acquisition programs and operational production in the 2016-2018 time frame. So the earlies you would have any operational follow-on to the X-47B is slarted for 2018 at the earliest. At least anothe six years.

That's when we may see real, operational pictures of the following (though we may see some test/qual pictures next year of the prototypes):

An official mini site on CdeG deployement off Lybia during operation "Harmatan"


There are some cool pictures.

Click at the top on "Théatres", then on the icons on the left...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- More than 5,500 Sailors and Marines assigned to the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG) are scheduled to arrive in Norfolk, Va., Nov. 4, following a seven-and-a-half-month deployment supporting operations in the Mediterranean and the Arabian Seas.

USS Enterprise's return to Norfolk will be the 25th and final homecoming in her 51 years of distinguished service. The aircraft carrier is scheduled to be inactivated Dec. 1, in a ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station, in Norfolk, Va.

"Homecoming will no doubt be a bittersweet day," said Capt. William C. Hamilton, Enterprise commanding officer. "We are pleased to be returning to our families after a very successful deployment, but to know that it is the last time Enterprise will be underway through her own power makes our return very sentimental."

While deployed, Enterprise CSG served in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR), conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

During her 238 days away from Norfolk, "Big E," as Enterprise is affectionately known, safely steamed 80,968 miles and Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) flew more than 8,000 sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and exercises in the 5th and 6th Fleet AORs.

"This has not been a victory lap for Enterprise by any means," said Rear Adm. Ted Carter, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group commander. "This has been a full-on combat operation. We've seen the full spectrum of Navy operations on this deployment. It's been a business as usual kind of deployment."

Enterprise was commissioned Nov. 25, 1961 as the eighth ship to bear the name Enterprise. Big E was the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. During her 51 years of service, Enterprise deployed 25 times and participated in every major conflict since the Cuban Missile Crisis. Enterprise has been homeported in both Alameda, Calif., and Norfolk, Va., and conducted operations in every region of the world.

The December inactivation ceremony will be the last official public event for Enterprise, and will serve as a celebration of life for the ship and the more than 100,000 Sailors who have served aboard the ship. All Enterprise veterans, their families, shipyard workers, and friends are invited to register to attend the inactivation week events and the ceremony on the ship's website,

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. Tickets to the events will be on a first available basis.

Enterprise CSG is comprised of: Commander, Carrier Strike Group 12, the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), CVW 1, Destroyer Squadron 2, guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Nitze (DDG 94), and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95).

The squadrons of CVW 1 embarked aboard Enterprise are: Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 "Red Rippers," VFA-136 "Knighthawks," VFA-211 "Fighting Checkmates," Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 "Thunderbolts," Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 123 "Screwtops," Carrier Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 137 "Rooks," Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 "Rawhides," and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 11 "Dragonslayers."

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Re: PLAN Carrier Operations..News, Videos & Photos II

I raised the question regarding MiG-29K & Rafale-M mainly due to the fact that none of the probable aircraft (J-31 or J-15) is a matured product like the other two. If J-31 is the proposed fighter, it would mean Liaoning will be without a proper air-wing for at least 18 months. So my though was, would it not have been better to get two squadrons of those aircraft and built up the capability. The only thing lacking for PLAN is actual deck operation where as there should not be any doubt that they will learn fast operating the carrier. But it is the air component that is the main task and without good number of aircraft, operating/learning a proper carrier operation looks too far away for PLAN. Once they get deck based aircraft, I'm certain that they will learn the basics fast and evolve, but the non-availability of a matured carrier based aircraft to aid that development is the main draw back here.


Regarding MiG-29K, it was a multi-role aircraft to start with, compared to its Sukhoi counterpart Su-33. It was not even a contest on which was technically superior. The original plan was to equip their new carrier Ulyanovsk with Su-33 (air-defence) & MiG-29K (multi-role/strike), but the tightening of the budget meant a choice had to be made between the two. So the decision was between a multi-role combat aircraft whose main weapons development was not complete which demanded more funds & time and an air-defence fighter with its armaments ready. Due to the financial situation prevailing, the multi-role/strike component got eliminated and it probably became a contest between MiG-29K & Su-33 for air-defence role. In this role Su-33 with its longer range & to an extent lower approach speed made it on to the deck.

Present MiG-29K have nothing much to do with the original MiG-29s (9.12).
MiG-29M (9.15) 1986
MiG-29K (9.31) 1988
MiG-29K (9.41) 2008

MiG-29M that flew in 1986 was a multi-role aircraft completely different from the earlier model, including larger fuel capacity. MiG-29K was a further development of this MiG-29M. The developments from these projects and systems developed for these multi-role fighter made the SD/SE & SMT packages in the early 90s for the MiG-29s. So there was only one multi-role fighter of new generation in the late 80s and that was MiG-29 & 29K. Sukhoi was a purely air-defence fighter. It was from the SMT package derived from the 29M & 29K programmes that Sukhoi developed/based its on multi-role packages for the Flankers.
Also, conclusions that MiG-29K is the worst aircraft after Sea Harriers could not have come from a working unit inside head. If we are to come to such a view due to the capability that came with size difference, we can arrive at a similar conclusion that a J-20 based naval fighter would have been better than J-31 based.


Btw... today is a special day for MiG-29K (& Su-33) program. 23 years ago, on 1st Nov 1989, MiG-29K (9.31) made its first carrier landing.

[video=youtube;wXYevIHV5a0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXYevIHV5a0[/video]

[video=youtube;SokBfoIOiFg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SokBfoIOiFg&feature=relmfu[/video]