Yeah, it is recently confirmed again in the fujian launch video.I remember PLAN's naming rule talks about "provincial level" not province. This means as far as the naming concerns, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing are "provinces".
Yeah, it is recently confirmed again in the fujian launch video.I remember PLAN's naming rule talks about "provincial level" not province. This means as far as the naming concerns, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing are "provinces".
I think what is more interesting the pace of these ship. If your rule of 1 replenishment per carrier is correct, it means a roughly 3 year wait for next carrier. That is enough time for next one to be nuclear. And there will not be another 003 conventional type coming. It fits the rumor from nuclear carrier thread that the engine is already ready.My personal wish and hope is that China could build at least 2 carriers at any one time, i.e. at least one in Jiangnan and at least one in Dalian.
Say, if the 004 and subsequent carriers can make it into serialized production, then China can expect to have one new carrier entering serivce every 2-3 years, instead of one new carrier entering service every 4-6 years that is currently practiced by the US.
Remember that Liaoning and Shandong are mainly training carriers in the eyes of the PLAN - The real deal starts with Fujian.
But,
View attachment 91012
We could guesstimate the number of carriers that could be operated by the PLAN at a time simply by looking at when the subsequent Type 901 replenishment ships are scheduled for commissioning.
View attachment 91011
Based on the table above -
The first Type 901 (pennant number 901), commissioned in 2012, is currently stationed in the North Sea Fleet, which corresponds to Liaoning. Liaoning was commissioned in 2012.
The 2nd Type 901 (pennant number 905), commissioned in 2019, is currently stationed in the South Sea Fleet, which corresponds to Shandong. Shandong was commissioned in 2019.
The 3rd Type 901 (pennant number unknown) is currently fitting out, expected for commissioning in 2023, and would be assigned to the North Sea Fleet. That means she is meant for Fujian, which is also expected for commissioning in 2024 for the North Sea Fleet.
The 4th Type 901 is currently under construction, expected for commissioning in 2026, and would be assigned to the South Sea Fleet.
The 5th Type 901 is currently in planning stage, expected for commissioning in 2027, and would be assigned to the North Sea Fleet.
This means that if things go smoothly for the coming years, 004 may be commissioned sometime in the 2026-2028 range, to be stationed in the South Sea Fleet.
Meanwhile, 005 may (hopefully) be commissioned sometime in the 2027-2029 range, to be stationed in the North Sea Fleet.
Therefore, I really do hope that the PLAN could operate at least 4 carriers before 2030. This is because IMO, the 2027-2030 range would be the best time for the final act of reunification of a certain southeastern island into China proper, should all avenues for a peaceful reunification have been exhausted. Plus, cunducting said reunification at that period while the USN is at their weakest, before their warships could ever bounce back in numbers when going into the 2030, would give a bigger edge for the PLAN in the Western Pacific.
(Side note: IMHO, now, China just should go with a second 003 that would rectify and mend any mistakes found on the Fujian, further improving the Fujian design, while buying enough time for China's marine nuclear propulsion technology to mature for carrier usage)
I think that’s far fetched. AESA radars have traditionally had relatively low peak powers compared to microwave tube radars. This helped them to achieve low probability of intercept. Aircraft AESA radars emit pulses in the low 2-digit kW range.It has been speculated for a while now that a AESA radars with enough power can focus their beams on a target, frying the electronics on board.
In theory the F-22 could do that, but like I said, it was mostly speculation.
I think that’s far fetched. AESA radars have traditionally had relatively low peak powers compared to microwave tube radars. This helped them to achieve low probability of intercept. Aircraft AESA radars emit pulses in the low 2-digit kW range.
Will need coastal provinces first before moving inland. I'd be super happy if we can use a 'Hebei', means we see a 006 or 007Following that logic a future CV could as well be named 'Hebei' in recognition of the invasion by the Eight Nation Alliance during the Boxer Rebellion, and the resulting occupations and looting (e.g. the sacking of the Summer Palace) in and around Beijing and Tianjin within the province.
With a scale of 80,000 tons, this should be the largest tonnage combat ship ever built in Eurasia. Hopefully 004 will break this record in 10 years.
I would think it's similar to why America built a single Enterprise class carrier. Except for China, the trial is in the integrated electric propulsion and catapult systems.I am still puzzled by why the 003 is apparently a singleton. building a single unique carrier does not appear to me to make sense, unless she is seen as a safer backup to the next nuclear carrier.
I think more likely she will have a sister. China has 2 yards capable of and now experienced in building carriers. So I think a second 003 will be built more or less concurrently with 004 if China does indeed intend to build an 004 immediately after the first 003.