CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
I seem to remember there was a discussion at one point here that the 003 could be being built on two separate shipyards with two separate construction processes, one on each yard, to test out which process is better for when 004 comes out. Is this still going to be the case?
What's the estimate for IOC for the 003? It's being built so quickly I wouldn't be surprised if it was launched either this year or next.
I think the J-15T would be more than adequate for the CATOBAR carriers. It is almost certain to have more payload capability than the initial J-XY would have because it is a bigger aircraft with larger engines. In fact I'm surprised it's entering production this soon. This seems to be faster than the production of the aircraft for 002. But this is likely to solve any issues with the aircraft. This time it isn't like 002 where they could use 001's J-15s for initial carrier flight tests. They don't have any other production catapult capable aircraft they can use. Maybe only a couple of J-15T prototypes manufactured for the land based catapult tests.
What's the estimate for IOC for the 003? It's being built so quickly I wouldn't be surprised if it was launched either this year or next.
I think the J-15T would be more than adequate for the CATOBAR carriers. It is almost certain to have more payload capability than the initial J-XY would have because it is a bigger aircraft with larger engines. In fact I'm surprised it's entering production this soon. This seems to be faster than the production of the aircraft for 002. But this is likely to solve any issues with the aircraft. This time it isn't like 002 where they could use 001's J-15s for initial carrier flight tests. They don't have any other production catapult capable aircraft they can use. Maybe only a couple of J-15T prototypes manufactured for the land based catapult tests.
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Intrepid
Major
At the moment there is no evidence of a sister ship anywhere.
I think the Chinese want to wait a little longer and get their first experience with 003 before they finish the next design.
2 003 before moving on to 004. 003 is not the mass produced version. 004 is the mass produced version. You can think of 003 compared to 004 is akin to 052C compared to 052D. 004 design is most likely in an advanced stage and construction can start as soon as the second 003 is launched.
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Is this only your thought or you have some source to prove it?
There is zero credible evidence of a 004. Serial production of the 003 (or 003A) is just as likely at this point.
Or you can compare with 055 (qty 8), 056 (qty 22+50), 071 (qty 8), or 075 (qty 3). All four classes represent much more recent production patterns and perfectly reasonable basis to argue that China no longer needs to build transitional classes of ships.
With no pressing need for a firm commitment, R&D can go on but everything else is all pure speculation. Prudent to wait and see whether U.S. will continue with the Ford program first.
The installed upper hanger module looks something like this, credit from Baidu Tieba and QQ. We can see that there has been two unfinished elevator modules being installed to the ship's starboard side. No sign yet for the third elevator hole on the left portside side of the ship because if there is a third one it is definitely going to be more backward to the rear.
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
New photo seem the hanger installation is making progress via Chinese Tiger
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