CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread

[sequ]

I want to see one of the many Chinese EV being catapulted into ( whatever one wants) by the EMALS. Will be great PR

 

[Deino]

What's the vessel in the background?

 

[Aeworp]

What's the vessel in the background?

View attachment 129060

Looks like an containerschip, see the containers on the left of the bridge

 

[kwaigonegin]

Oh how far PLAN has come, it has made so much progress in the past decade, it's insane and mind boggling. To think PLAN was quite antiquated brown water navy even in early 2000's, importing foreign destroyers, now it's a world class blue water navy with indigenous supercarrier with latest EMCAT tech, skipping steam catapults entirely, it something I wouldn't have believed you! Congratulations! It's a huge milestone.

I have to give it to PLAN. In just a single generation they went from towing a literal rust bucket from Ukraine under the guise of turning it into a casino to a very soon to be launching a new supercarrier shooting J35s into the air.

 

[plawolf]

Given how China is still somewhat of a newbie when it comes to aircraft carrier and carrier-based aviation operations, coupled with the PLAN's typical cautious, 小步快跑's nature - I'd think that we should be thankful if we can see 5 carrier hulls in the water by 2035.

Unless, of course, if the PLAN is finally satisfied with the 004 (if the 4th CV is a half-sister to Fujian) or the 005 (with the 4th CV also being a one-off ship, whether nuclear-powered or conventionally-powered) such that subsequent CVs can be put into serial production, then we might be able to see more than 5 CVs existing in various states by 2035.

Don’t forget that China now have two shipyards with carrier building experience.

If they wanted to, they could build two carriers at the same time. 5 carriers in the water by 2035 is not only easily achievable, they could very feasibly have 5 carriers in service by 2035 if they really wanted to.

 

[Michaelsinodef]

Ah ... then sorry, but more industrial capabilities (or better capacities) since the vessels and knowledge itself is surely not lost.

Nah, you be surprised at how easy it is to lose manufacturing knowledge and talent.

 

[wssth0306]

Don’t forget that China now have two shipyards with carrier building experience.

If they wanted to, they could build two carriers at the same time. 5 carriers in the water by 2035 is not only easily achievable, they could very feasibly have 5 carriers in service by 2035 if they really wanted to.

The road is still long , the daily and peak sortie rate of PLAN naval aviation is still far behind USN .
Naval capabilities takes decades not years to build , PLAN still has a long way to go .
革命尚未成功，同志仍须努力

 

[Phead128]

The road is still long , the daily and peak sortie rate of PLAN naval aviation is still far behind USN .
Naval capabilities takes decades not years to build , PLAN still has a long way to go .
革命尚未成功，同志仍须努力

His point is that it's mainly a policy decision, not a technical or production limitation, to scaling naval capacity. Now proficiency for new crew members and familiarity takes time is a valid point, but shipbuilding wise, there is no question that China can pump out aircraft carriers like sausages if it wished to.

 

[Gloire_bb]

His point is that it's mainly a policy decision, not a technical or production limitation, to scaling naval capacity. Now proficiency for new crew members and familiarity takes time is a valid point, but shipbuilding wise, there is no question that China can pump out aircarriers like sausages if it wished to.

Yep, and the interesting question is for some time now - why actually not.

Value of all this surface ship overbuildup is ultimately limited by relative underinvestment in other capabilities, necessary for a balanced navy.
"One step at a time“ explanation is hard to accept as well - because given the time it takes to build up PLAN - its 2010s investment in dozens of first class large surface combatants will basically reach its normal MLU age (i.e. over halfway to retirement).

 

[Wrought]

Yep, and the interesting question is for some time now - why actually not.

It's not that interesting or even really a question. It's because they haven't settled on a modern, mature design which fulfills all requirements. Just look at how the 052s evolved from B to C to D. They didn't start churning them out until the end, because why would you waste resources mass producing soon-to-be obsolete platforms?

The same concepts apply to carriers now as they did to destroyers then. First you iterate, then you produce. Perhaps 004 will be the one they settle on, perhaps not.