CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread

[Temstar]

Before and after:

Damn that's a lot of arrays all concentrated together.

 

[para80]

Same as on 055 the panels will likely serve a variety of functions, not just radar arrays, but also ESM etc.

 

[DaTang cavalry]

It doesn't look like much has changed on the surface.

 

[lcloo]

It doesn't look like much has changed on the surface.

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The white dot objects and color differences on the deck surface at the aft section may indicate that they are working on deck.

(Disregard shadows from the island and cranes.)

 

[Intrepid]

In previous images, we probably couldn't see details on the deck because they were retouched.

 

[Lime]

I heard a rumor several days ago from someone said his parents are workers of JN shipyard that the catapults had already fixed and he used the word 'splendid' to describe the catapults.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

I heard a rumor several days ago from someone said his parents are workers of JN shipyard that the catapults had already fixed and he used the word 'splendid' to describe the catapults.

Do you mean that the catapults have been completed? Because "fixed" and "completed" are two different things.

 

[Intrepid]

Physically completed and operationally completed are two different things. The catapults will have been physically completed for a long time.

 

[Lime]

Do you mean that the catapults have been completed? Because "fixed" and "completed" are two different things.

He just uses the word '完成'. I know it means 'complete' literally.
But IMO this may mean 'already fixed', I cannot describe it exactly because lack of other valid information.

 

[Blitzo]

It doesn't look like much has changed on the surface.

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Just to address this directly -- the physical appearance of the flight deck is one of the last things that we will see progress on for a carrier as it is fitting out.

Think about what is visually obvious on a carriers flight deck:
Basically it's arresting gear, catapults (if you're a CATOBAR carrier), and flight markings.
Arresting gear and flight markings are one of the last things to be installed and painted respectively.
And catapults will be under roofs for proper work/installation until you don't need roofs/sheds anymore because the work is done.


This is a long way of saying that for a carrier's fitting out, the flight deck is one of the least useful if not the singularly least useful part of the ship to look at if one wants to track progress.

The island tends to be a bit more useful because at least you can see arrays and antennae being installed.
Sponsons for CIWS is also kind of useful (but again, it's a bit more late stage).

The vast majority of the work is internal and impossible to visually identify.