CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread

[TK3600]

The J-35 is already in service

The naval variant?

 

[Blitzo]

The naval variant?

Yes.
We've seen production birds with active service unit numbers in the last week or two as part of parade practice

 

[gongolongo]

Yes.
We've seen production birds with active service unit numbers in the last week or two as part of parade practice

Probably near operational service. Probably painted up for parade but needs more time for units to be familiar enough with the system to be familiar (most likely).

 

[tamsen_ikard]

Probably near operational service. Probably painted up for parade but needs more time for units to be familiar enough with the system to be familiar (most likely).

Active service means the force is using it at the moment, not testing the plane for issues.

How they use it, how they train on it and how they apply it tactically can happen afterwards.

 

[charles18]

If considering a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, steam turbines would be the preferred option. If the next generation of aircraft carriers is conventional, gas turbines would be the preferred option.

China can already build commercial nuclear power plants at 50% the cost compared to western counterparts.
The Hualong One nuclear reactor costs about $2.5 billion / gigawatt. This is an impossible price to reproduce in the West.

If Chinese engineers can figure out a way to do to naval reactors what they did to commercial reactors ---> cut the price down by 50% then the debate will be over. Nuclear power will be the default propulsion for large ships for the simple reason it will be cheaper.