Aircraft Carriers II (Closed to posting)
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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I have got to say that the French Navy has very good equipment and very good experience and training.
They do need to get their new Barracuda SSNs into the water to come up to more modern standards. Rubis cannot compete with Astute or Virginia...or the new Russian designs at present. And it is taking them ten years from keel laying to commissioning for each of the six vessels at two year intervals...so the first comissions in 2017, and the sixth in 2027. Long time to put out six boats.
Too bad they do not have three or four carrier groups outfitted with such escorts and subs.
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india nears catapult decision for second indigenous carrier
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By: GREG WALDRON NEW DELHI 05:31 5 Dec 2012 Source:
India is in the process of deciding whether its second indigenous aircraft carrier will be equipped with catapults.
The vessel, referred to within New Delhi naval circles as IAC 2 (indigenous aircraft carrier 2), will follow IAC 1, which is now being built in Kochi shipyard.
The lead ship will be similar in size to the INS Vikramaditya, formerly the Soviet carrier the Admiral Gorshkov, and displace approximately 36,000t, says a source familiar with Indian navy plans. As with the Vikramaditya, IAC 1 will launch aircraft using a "ski-ramp" structure.
IAC 2 is envisaged as a far larger warship - with a displacement of approximately 60,000t - and could enter the fleet within 10 to 15 years. Senior leaders within the navy are leaning toward deploying this ship with catapults, sources say, with a decision on whether to integrate steam catapults or an electromagnetic aircraft launch system to come as soon as July 2013. New Delhi is also considering the possibility of making IAC 2 a nuclear-powered vessel.
Indian navy plans call for a three-carrier fleet, with the service's only current example, the Viraat, to be retired in the coming years. This would allow one carrier to be stationed on each of India's coasts, while the third would undergo repairs or perform other duties such as training.
The Vikramaditya was supposed to have been delivered this month, but problems with the ship's propulsion system have reportedly delayed this until the second half of 2013. Prior to the emergence of these issues, Russian pilots in RAC MiG-29K/KUB aircraft conducted successful flight tests from the ship (below).
RAC MiG
Through the use of catapults, IAC 2 would be able to operate larger, more powerful aircraft, such as the Dassault Rafale - the apparent winner of the Indian air force's medium multirole combat aircraft requirement - or the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Catapults would reduce the deck space required for launching aircraft, while allowing them to carry more fuel and heavier payloads. Ramp-assisted operations require long take-off runs, and involve fighters burning considerable fuel just to get airborne.
The addition of catapults would also allow IAC 2 to operate fixed-wing airborne early warning and control system and battle management aircraft, such as Northrop Grumman's E-2D Hawkeye, providing the fleet with far greater situational awareness than helicopter-borne surveillance equipment .
By: GREG WALDRON NEW DELHI 05:31 5 Dec 2012 Source:
India is in the process of deciding whether its second indigenous aircraft carrier will be equipped with catapults.
The vessel, referred to within New Delhi naval circles as IAC 2 (indigenous aircraft carrier 2), will follow IAC 1, which is now being built in Kochi shipyard.
The lead ship will be similar in size to the INS Vikramaditya, formerly the Soviet carrier the Admiral Gorshkov, and displace approximately 36,000t, says a source familiar with Indian navy plans. As with the Vikramaditya, IAC 1 will launch aircraft using a "ski-ramp" structure.
IAC 2 is envisaged as a far larger warship - with a displacement of approximately 60,000t - and could enter the fleet within 10 to 15 years. Senior leaders within the navy are leaning toward deploying this ship with catapults, sources say, with a decision on whether to integrate steam catapults or an electromagnetic aircraft launch system to come as soon as July 2013. New Delhi is also considering the possibility of making IAC 2 a nuclear-powered vessel.
Indian navy plans call for a three-carrier fleet, with the service's only current example, the Viraat, to be retired in the coming years. This would allow one carrier to be stationed on each of India's coasts, while the third would undergo repairs or perform other duties such as training.
The Vikramaditya was supposed to have been delivered this month, but problems with the ship's propulsion system have reportedly delayed this until the second half of 2013. Prior to the emergence of these issues, Russian pilots in RAC MiG-29K/KUB aircraft conducted successful flight tests from the ship (below).
RAC MiG
Through the use of catapults, IAC 2 would be able to operate larger, more powerful aircraft, such as the Dassault Rafale - the apparent winner of the Indian air force's medium multirole combat aircraft requirement - or the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Catapults would reduce the deck space required for launching aircraft, while allowing them to carry more fuel and heavier payloads. Ramp-assisted operations require long take-off runs, and involve fighters burning considerable fuel just to get airborne.
The addition of catapults would also allow IAC 2 to operate fixed-wing airborne early warning and control system and battle management aircraft, such as Northrop Grumman's E-2D Hawkeye, providing the fleet with far greater situational awareness than helicopter-borne surveillance equipment .
I was just wondering considering the difference in ship building capabilities and more over overall industrial capabilities between China and India. China is well ahead of India on both counts. So why is India so bold that they can start building 2 domestic carriers and China hasn't even started yet. Is it because India has 50 years of experience in operating carriers ? Or is it that India is able to get foreign help for its carriers programs which China can't ? Or is it simply that China is more cautious and wants to star big from the beginning and go for a 65000 to 80000 ton carrier right away ?
franco-russe
Senior Member
India got a lot of design assistance from Europe, first from DCNS of France, then from Fincantieri of Italy (which built the CAVOUR on which the new VIKRANT is generally based).
I find it hard to believe that China got no help from Russia, though (plus 18 tons of blueprints from the Black Sea Shipyard in Nikolayev). Going for a 65,000-ton carrier was an easy choice for China, as that was what was available. Which incidentally makes LIAONING a better platform than the converted 45,000-ton ex ADMIRAL GORSHKOV.
I suppose having the industrial capacity allows China to construct quickly therefore they can spend more time on "getting things right" knowing they can turn around the builds rapidly.
On the whole the Chinese seem more deliberate and measured in their approach, their armed forces seem positively frugal and don't appear to dash head long into anything, preferring to build small batches of equipment until they're satisfied having ironed out the wrinkles then progress.
Finally, since an aircraft carrier is an ecosystem, the Chinese seem to be pragmatic, given the aircraft for the first vessel aren't yet in series production rushing to build additional vessels when you don't yet have aircraft for them seems to be a waste of shipyard capacity and capital.
The Chinese armed forces does not have an unlimited budget, like any countries, they have a spending limit imposed on them. Despite having the second largest economy in the world, China is still a poor country on a per capita basis. It is only natural that they strive to minimise risk in their programs.
navyreco
Senior Member
Marine Nationale (French Navy) Chevalier Paul Air Defense Destroyer (Horizon class) which just went through Suez canal is to be embedded inside a USN CVBG for an unknown duration.
I'll try to find more info on this.
BD, any idea which US CVN is currently in the Red Sea or Aden Gulf ?
I'll try to find more info on this.
BD, any idea which US CVN is currently in the Red Sea or Aden Gulf ?
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