PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)

WE will see slow progress in 001A's module assembly in February next year. CNY official holidays starts from Feb 7th to 19th, 7 days holidays not counting weekends. Also, added Feb 13th to 15th (replacement) for New Year holidays. A total of 13 straight official off days announced by Chinese Government.

Looks like 2016 new year holidays were postponed and moved to CNY off days.

Dalian shipyard is a civilian company. It is also not a strategic R&D institute and China is not on war footing. Most workers are not locals.


2016年春节假期放假安排时间表
根据国务院办公厅等有关部门的通知中已将2016年春节节日假期期间的放假安排时间表公布，一共放假7天。具体时间安排为：2月13日至19日放假，共7天。其中2月7日是除夕，2月8日是春节，2月13日到15日共三天为法定元旦假期。2月16日、2月17 日、2月18日、2月19日分别是星期二到星期六，随后的两天周末不再另行补休

Let's get back on topic.

Here's a time line of the construction from February of this year to September from Satellite images. When I get more for October and November I will add them and keep this going.

Another look at the progress:

Jeff, from the photos available now, would you be able to "guess" how big the 001A would be, including tonnage ?

Just for comparison reasons, final assembly of HMS «Prince of Wales»
Check the similarities of cross sections

I thought it would be worthwhile and interesting to look at the two principle STOBAR carrier aircraft for Russia and China...the J-15 and the SU-33.

The J-15 is coming on strong and has a bright future, the SU-33 is fading.

Here's an in service J-15:



Here's an in service SU-33:



Here's a comparison of characteristics:


Here's a picture of J-15s on board the Liaoning:



Here's a picture of SU-33s on board the Kuznetsov:



As I say, the J-15 is up and coming.

I expect there will be at least three carrier air wings of these aircraft built, along with the requisite training squadron and probably others for test and eval and for contingency concerns.

Something like 80+ aircraft perhaps for the PLAN before all is said and done..

The SU-33 is done. No more will be built.

The 19 that Russia has will be it, and I expect they will be replaced by the newer Mig-29K aircraft in the future.

antiterror13 said:

Jeff, from the photos available now, would you be able to "guess" how big the 001A would be, including tonnage ?

Click to expand...

I believe this carrier is going to look very much like the Liaoning.

It will be pretty much the same length, the same beam, and very close to the same draft.

Probably on the order of 60-65,000 tons just like the Liaoning.

It will have some improvements.

Probably a larger internal hanger with all of the old structure surrounding the VLS tubes that were built into the old Varyag removed.

I would expect that there might be some minor adjustments to the island.

Probably a newer/different propulsion system.

Things like that. Improvements where they can make them without any drastic change to the hull form or general layout and the operations of the ship.

This will give them the opportunity to have common training and logistics with the vast majority of the parts common to both. Much cheaper to operate two that are very much alike than have them be wholly dissimilar.

Time will tell.

Jeff, are you sure J-15 and Su-33 have same max weight? And I believe Su-33 is compatible with A2G munition like Kh-41.

kriss said:

And I believe Su-33 is compatible with A2G munition like Kh-41.

Click to expand...

No ... was never integrated and only fitted as a mock-up.

Deino said:

No ... was never integrated and only fitted as a mock-up.

Click to expand...

Exactly. Several internet forums and pages will indicate that they are...but that is just because they make presumptions from seeing the old mock-up pictures and presume it is real.

Oh well.