Xuelong 2 is under maintenance for 45 days in drydock 4 as we speak. After that Xuelong would take a similar 45 days maintenance which might use drydock 4 too.
CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Unless we are expecting the super blocks to be transported imminently I'm not quite sure what the relevance of this is.
If Xuelong would also use drydock 4 it woundn't be available until late august at earliest. Also I believe many including some member on this forum expect first super block to be moved in the next couple of months so this info is for the sake of discussion.
003 is expected to launch in October 2020
And how do you think should be accomplished?? ... maybe you mean October 2021?!
The modules are built at best half in level up to the deck, they are still not in the drydock and mated, the deck itself isn't ready nor the island ....
003 is - even if constructed in a different way to 002 - surely not even up to this state, when for 002 the hangar deck was added:
PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)
Here's what I mean: Well in the first picture the module has not been lowered yet, so it could be for the more forward part of the ship where it is narrower.
www.sinodefenceforum.com
... and that was in October 2015, about 18 months before 002 was launched in April 2017.
By a rough estimation, 003 is probably comparable to the 002 in September 2015. But that's debatable.
Or is this a type or do you mean something different with "launch"??
This is a launch for much and this is plain impossible for the 003 carrier this year:
So in summary: Either you explain, where this misinterpretation is from or why do you think they could manage launch for 003 within 6 months, what took more than 18 months for 002 or stop with such unsubstantial claims!?
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You mean the current stage of 003 is probably comparable to 002 in Sept 2015, right?
it is possible for a modular ship hull to be only partially assembled in either length or depth and then set afloat. so it is not impossible for the chinese to assemble just the modules up to the hangar deck and then float it out by october 2020 and move it somewhere else to continue assembly. this would be made more likely if they intend to use the facilities where 003 No1 modules are currently being manipulated and assembled for another new carrier very soon.
Such will likely not be considered an official launch with pomp and ceremony, but it would probably still be milked for some internet bragging value, if not by the chinese navy or the ship builder, at least by internet fan boys.