CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread

Biscuits

Major
Registered Member
I don't believe it.

There have been certain individuals who believe that 003 will be nuclear powered, but it isn't a logical evolution for the PLAN carrier program. China does not have experience building or operating the type of large nuclear reactors that you'd need for a 80,000 to 100,000-ton aircraft carrier. We've barely heard anything about a nuclear-powered icebreaker, let alone a nuclear-powered carrier!

We observed that we have consistently underestimated the rate of Chinese naval development, after the stunningly rapid pace of 002's construction. Granted, that was ripping off an old Soviet design. But a nuclear-powered CATOBAR 003 with EMALS, on a schedule to be completed by 2022, is just absurd.

It would be more ambitious to build the world's largest IEPS warship by far.

USA used to not have the experience while building Enterprise class either, so they used large number of small submarine nuclear reactors. China has a lot of experience with nuclear submarines.

I would not discount the idea that China can make a conventional warship powerful enough to hold the EMALS system. After all they have a lot of experience in shipbuilding as well. But it also wouldn't be surprising if they go for an easier power solution that has been proven before.
 

Dante80

Junior Member
Registered Member
I would not discount the idea that China can make a conventional warship powerful enough to hold the EMALS system. After all they have a lot of experience in shipbuilding as well. But it also wouldn't be surprising if they go for an easier power solution that has been proven before.

What do you mean "discount the idea"? Everything we know about the project - and there has been a lot of leaks and info over the years - pretty much leads to a conventionally powered warship with EMALS. This is not a matter of experience or ability. It is simply what we know about the design.

IF 003 is not a conventionally powered warship with EMALS then it will certainly be a HUGE surprise to everyone that is following its development/construction.
 

by78

General
Another day, another flyover.

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asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
China is allowing commercial over flights of its most interesting part of its most important shipyard ?

not that its a secret but still

btw which troll here is claiming that 003 is nuclear powered ? no chance in hell

if its nuclear powered I will simply leave this forum in humiliation
 

Orthan

Senior Member
Another day, another flyover.

Its a pity that this photo doesnt have the same resolution as the photos from deino´s post, but still, we can see that they have added another piece of the hull to that dry dock, although still not connected, and that the large single hull piece that we saw earlier is in fact 2 pieces still not connected.


Do we know if that place is still connected to the carrier construction?
 
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Daniel707

Junior Member
Registered Member
I don't believe it.

There have been certain individuals who believe that 003 will be nuclear powered, but it isn't a logical evolution for the PLAN carrier program. China does not have experience building or operating the type of large nuclear reactors that you'd need for a 80,000 to 100,000-ton aircraft carrier. We've barely heard anything about a nuclear-powered icebreaker, let alone a nuclear-powered carrier!

We observed that we have consistently underestimated the rate of Chinese naval development, after the stunningly rapid pace of 002's construction. Granted, that was ripping off an old Soviet design. But a nuclear-powered CATOBAR 003 with EMALS, on a schedule to be completed by 2022, is just absurd.

Yes, I hope not too.
I will be Dissappointed if this Type 003 goes to Nuclear (Using many small nuclear submarine reactor like Enterprise).
Its only 1 step ahead for China.

Instead of using IEPS onboard to become Largest Warship in the World for using IEPS.

Imagine this, 90,000 - 100,000 Tonnes AC with 30+ knot speed and EMALS.
It will be 10 step ahead for China's Shipbuilding
 

Tam

Brigadier
Registered Member
China is allowing commercial over flights of its most interesting part of its most important shipyard ?

not that its a secret but still

btw which troll here is claiming that 003 is nuclear powered ? no chance in hell

if its nuclear powered I will simply leave this forum in humiliation

The shipyard itself is no big secret. Its first and foremost after all, a commercial shipyard. Representatives of the companies the shipyard has contracts to make ships for are all over the place. Like those CMA CGN kaiju box ships that are dominating the landscape there. CMA CGN is a French company, and so French reps of that company may be over at that place checking out their pride and joy.

Chinese military seems to have different levels of secrecy with their projects and surface ships don't seem to be high in that list, in comparison to say submarines where photographs of their construction are extremely rare. There are also far more pictures of subs above water many years ago that are shot by onlookers, compared to today where they have been reduced to almost nil, probably due to robot censors combing Chinese social media, and the only submarine pictures you get are the ones officially produced by the Chinese Navy for promotional purposes.
 

Intrepid

Major
I can very well imagine that it is part of the campaign to show how quickly, yet precisely, military ships can be built in China.

If the Chinese did it in secret, the effect would not be so great.

As it is happening, it will be easier to find allies.
 
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