CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Hehehe...so the new supposed mockup is not a mockup at all, but an attraction at a hotel?
Sort of like the old "Nimitz" carrier tourist attraction they built some year back?
Which means, in the end, it has nothing to do with 002 if Sczepanski is correct.
C'est la vie!...such is life in Chinese naval watching.
If we look at the big picture the PLAN is unlikely to have satisfactory C4 for a CVG on board any of its existing ships including the Liaoning as it is its first ever carrier which hasn't even trained with a complete air complement as part of a CVG as far as public knowledge goes. This C4 capability is often predicted as something the 055 will provide and is also likely to be built into the 2nd carrier currently under construction. However even this improved C4 capability which would have been informed by exercising with the Liaoning will still need vetting through future exercises as complete CVGs with complete air complements. The earliest probable commissioning of either the first 055 or the 2nd carrier is mid-to-late 2017. Assuming there will be a complete air complement for the Liaoning or the 2nd carrier by then and they immediately begin vetting the new C4 systems with full fledged CVG exercises they should still need several months to gain sufficient information to finalize the systems and overall designs for future vessels such as the 3rd carrier. Which means that late 2018 may be the earliest construction start date for the 3rd carrier and the 2nd or 3rd 055. There may only be a single 055 at first to test it out in CVG, ARG, and SAG settings before building more or there may be two right away to expedite testing but will also mean two rather than one needing upgrades later.
My own feeling is that the 2nd carrier (001A or CV-17) will not launch until 1st quarter 2017, maybe March. I do not believe it would commission until early 2018 myself.
The 1st Type 055 that we think is building seems even further away from launching. From what we have seen in the shipyard, if it indeed turns out to be the 055, and chances are good that it will...I do not see that launching until the end of 2017 at the earliest. Which means late 2018 for commissioning.
Then they have to work up to IOC and then full capability. Through that process, which will be a couple of years long, they will integrate and work up all theC4 capabilities.
This does not mean the 3rd carrier will not be building during that time. I believe it will.
it just means that they will not get a full appreciation for, or use out of their C4 until that time frame...probably 2020 in any case.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
it's a hotel that has a profile of a large aircraft carrier and a mockup of a helo and aircraft on it's rooftop
Built at one of the most sensitive naval development centers in China.
Wich is 2 hours away from this mockup.
And this mockup has a resort and hotel next to it.
Doesnt sound like a militairy zone at all.
It's called "Wulan Lakeview Hotel"
I didn't realize it was that far away fro Wuhan's facilities.
In which case it is not a mockup at all...just an attraction to the hotel.
Time will tell...but it is good to have more definitive information about it so we don't go on ad on about some kind of theme attraction to a hotel...or, hehehe, casino! LOL!
Intrepid
Major
The island of Type 001A gets two bridges, so it is a kind of command ship. It will not be used in the same manner like Liaoning.