CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
I think confirming J-15D on it CV-18 (with the proviso that the mockup of J-15D we see, seems to be a standard STOBAR version, though we don't know what a potential CATOBAR version of J-15D will look like in fine details), should be a strong indicator that we should expect a CATOBAR compatible J-15D in the near future (if it hasn't flown already without us knowing).
I would expect a CATOBAR compatible J-15D to have many of the same undercarriage/landing gear and door differences that we see on J-15B.
Most likely, there is only one kind of J-15D, and it serves both STOBAR and CATOBAR. Using the same kind of aviation force on all aircraft carriers has great advantages in terms of logistics support/cost control/management convenience, and there are no uncontrollable defects and technical bottlenecks.
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You are aware that the J-15D that currently exists is only STOBAR compatible (no catapult compatible nose gear or reinforcement, so can't be CATOBAR launched), and there is a possibility that J-15D may already be in service in some small numbers?
By definition, it means that if we see a J-15D for CATOBAR carriers in the future we inevitably will have to see a second J-15D variant that is modified and compatible with CATOBAR. Such a new variant may well will be used aboard the STOBAR carriers as well because that makes sense (in the same way that J-35/XY is likely to be used aboard both CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers, and likely same for J-15B as well).
And it may be that at that point, only a small number of current J-15D STOBAR airframes will be produced, and they may eventually be retired in favour of a CATOBAR compatible J-15D that is cross deck compatible between CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers.
But it means either way there will not be "only one kind of J-15D" -- instead, we are almost certainly going to see a second J-15D variant which is CATOBAR compatible, which may succeed the first in production and service.
Maybe I am not well-informed, but the footage of the J-15D operating on the STOBAR aircraft carriers is very limited. It is also difficult to tell whether it has the structure required for catapult launch.
You are not well informed.
I advise you to not write confidently about things if you don't actually know what you're talking about.
All of the pictures we have of J-15D so far show they clearly lack CATOBAR nose gear (specifically the launch bar, which is very easily identifiable if it is there based on the quality of imagery we have thus far), and are only STOBAR compatible.
It is possible and likely that a CATOBAR compatible J-15D will be developed, however that still means we will end up with two variants of J-15D being ultimately developed and produced -- one version that is STOBAR only (which we currently know and see), and one version that is CATOBAR compatible and thus able to cross deck between CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers.
Maybe the image posted yesterday was too blurry but here it is clearly visible, also all the red and yellow deck markings are applied on the PLANS-18 "Fujian".
I would say, deck is complete and the ship is ready for the party!?
And my gut feeling tells me that it is not entirely unlikely that this will take place next Tuesday, April 23rd, on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PLAN.
I would say, deck is complete and the ship is ready for the party!?
And my gut feeling tells me that it is not entirely unlikely that this will take place next Tuesday, April 23rd, on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PLAN.
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Ok, you are right, there are different versions J-15D. But given the inevitably low total production of the J-15D, I strongly doubt that the Chinese Navy would be willing to differentiate between the different versions in actual operations. Maybe continue to observe…
Maybe the image posted yesterday was too blurry but here it is clearly visible, also all the red and yellow deck markings are applied on the PLANS-18 "Fujian".
I would say, deck is complete and the ship is ready for the party!?
And my gut feeling tells me that it is not entirely unlikely that this will take place next Tuesday, April 23rd, on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PLAN.
View attachment 128206
PS … strange, but it looks way better this way!
