Well...in the end...as the old saying goes, the proof is in the pudding
So far, we are waiting on the pudding.
PLA Navy news, pics and videos
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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So far, we are waiting on the pudding.
I expect we will get evidence of IEPS implemented aboard some ships within the next five years, and we may see EM cats in some form of open testing in about the same time span (but probably later until they are actually implemented aboard carriers).
However we are definitely never going to be able to verify how good they are compared to their international peers, that information will never be available to us.
I agree. I assume the systems that Ma's team has developed are demo ones, meaning that even if they work perfectly in a controlled environment, they still need to develop the production systems with a lot of field testing.
I don't expect us to see they put the EMALS anytime soon on a carrier under construction, not until the Type 003 or later aircraft carriers. So we won't be able to verify that for quite some time.
For the marine IEPS, however, we should be able to know if they really already have a working system reasonably soon. I think the most logic class of ship that should incorporate such a system first is the speculated Type 054B or 057 frigate. Frankly, I have never quite understood why they need to proceed to build another class of frigate so quickly when they're still mass producing 054A and it's a rather modern frigate. Unless there are significant technology advancements compared with the type 054A, that is. The foremost among the potential technology upgrades would be IEPS, im my opinion.
And if they succeed in incorporating the IEPS into the next-generation frigate, then the next step after that would be on Type 055A. All my speculations, of course.
I don't think we'll ever really be able to verify the actual capability of their EM cat compared to other systems in any true way, because that would require us to know a lot of performance details of the Chinese EM cat compared to the USN's EMALS, and we won't have enough information for either.
That speculation is pretty in line with the projections of IEPS for the Chinese Navy for the next few years. I think it's been coalescing for a few years now that the next generation frigate expected to emerge in the next few years will be the first Chinese Navy surface combatant to have IEPS, and that it may then be followed by an 055 variant which will also have IEPS in lieu of the expected COGAG of early ships.
Regarding EM catapult, at this stage it sounds like 002 may use steam catapults, but if they build more than one 002 carriers it could be possible that they end up installing it on the second unit of 002. Or they may wait until 002 or even later. The EM catapult situation is a bit more fluid than IEPS.
That said, if they start testing an EM catapult on land with aircraft launches (such as at the Huangdicun naval aviation facility which has undergone construction of some suspected catapult test tracks) then it could serve as an indicator that EM catapults are intended for a carrier sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, it will be a while until we are able to verify whether the Huangdicun facility really is constructing catapults, and even longer for us to verify if the catapults themselves are EM or steam.
A few things. Firstly, the first bold part "舰船中压直流综合电力系 统" means marine medium voltage direct current integrated electrical system, not IEPS. Secondly, "某电磁发射系统" means electromagnetic launch system, could be EMAL or railgun. Thirdly, "取得了与世界最先进水平的同步 发展" means reach parity with the most advance tech in the world, not exceeded
舰船 translates to warship, and 综合电力系统 is the term for IES or IEPS (if you have IES you can do IEPS).
弹射 in this context generally refers to catapult. For example, steam catapults are called 蒸汽弹射.
But the article didn't say 弹射. Read the article again
I think IEPS would be written as 电力推动系统， not the way written in the article. Sound to me it is just an integrated electrical system. Then again, I'm just a computer engineer. Maybe someone who is more knowledgeable in Chinese terms can provide some input
中压直流综合电力系统 is already used in civilian ships, around the same tonnage as 054. I would expect 054B to be electrified, the question is when. It's reported that China is the first to take a medium voltage approach.
China is fortunate to have someone as Prof Ma to be devoted to this area, just like Mr. Yang Wei to J-20. Problem is that as far as carrier program is concerned, Chinese planners likely have no appetite for conventional powered EMCAT, yet a nuclear one would be hampered by process in the reactor.
China is fortunate to have someone as Prof Ma to be devoted to this area, just like Mr. Yang Wei to J-20. Problem is that as far as carrier program is concerned, Chinese planners likely have no appetite for conventional powered EMCAT, yet a nuclear one would be hampered by process in the reactor.
Why? Source?
