PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)

Yes tis I the forever skeptic. First off that photo could have been taken at dawn or dusk. I want to see some traps and launches when the sun is down...that's all..kinda like this.

PHILLIPINE SEA (June 3, 2012) An F/A-18E assigned to the Eagles of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 lights its afterburners before launching from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka on May 26 to begin its 2012 patrol. George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Paul Kelly/Released)

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Have they performed night ops? I don't know for sure.

Jeff, if you have photos of a night launch or recovery please post.

test bd said:

Yes tis I the forever skeptic. First off that photo could have been taken at dawn or dusk. I want to see some traps and launches when the sun is down...that's all..kinda like this.

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Have they performed night ops? I don't know for sure.

Jeff, if you have photos of a night launch or recovery please post.

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I too would like to see pictures and videos of night ops. PLAN has been very methodical in their carrier approach.. It many ways they are taking it very slow and steady and too safe IMHO but I understand...Baby steps. I believe Liaoning has finally progressed from a training/ development stage to almost operational.

Night ops would be the very last hurdle to cross since that are by far the most difficult and risky. Liaoning is the pride and joy not just for plan but the entire country. At this point in time it is not just a naval vessel but also an important propaganda tool and an item of immense interest for the Chinese psyche. A major accident would be disastrous in many ways that is why they are taking it very very slow and easy.

I think once we see even a couple J15 launches and traps in the dark you know she is ready for prime time.

Unlike PLAN, the USN did not have the luxury of time to roll easy because ours was forced and forged in the heat of battle. Skills were honed through
mistakes and blood. lessons were learned and then we wrote NATOPS. PLAN is reading from the same play book but they have time on their hands to practice and practice during peacetime.

kwaigonegin said:

I too would like to see pictures and videos of night ops. PLAN has been very methodical in their carrier approach.. It many ways they are taking it very slow and steady and too safe IMHO but I understand...Baby steps. I believe Liaoning has finally progressed from a training/ development stage to almost operational.

Night ops would be the very last hurdle to cross since that are by far the most difficult and risky. Liaoning is the pride and joy not just for plan but the entire country. At this point in time it is not just a naval vessel but also an important propaganda tool and an item of immense interest for the Chinese psyche. A major accident would be disastrous in many ways that is why they are taking it very very slow and easy.

I think once we see even a couple J15 launches and traps in the dark you know she is ready for prime time.

Unlike PLAN, the USN did not have the luxury of time to roll easy because ours was forced and forged in the heat of battle. Skills were honed through
mistakes and blood. lessons were learned and then we wrote NATOPS. PLAN is reading from the same play book but they have time on their hands to practice and practice during peacetime.

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US carrier aviation started in 1922 with the USS Langley, so the navy had 20 years to develop skills and tactics before Japan sneak attacked Pearl Harbor. It's true the war accelerated CBG operations learning too.

Just for memories sake, here's a short history on how the Liaoning came to be.

It was developed from the Russian Kuznetsov class carrier, the Varyag, that was never completed and was then sold by the Ukraine to China after the Soviet Union fell apart.

The Kuznetsov itself was the genesis of two prior carrier classes by the Soviets, the Moskva class (of which two were built) and the Kiev class (of which four were built).

So you have the Moskva class (1960s), the Kiev class (1970s), the Varyag (1980s)...and then the Liaoning, commissioned in 2012.


MOSKVA CLASS



KIEV CLASS



VARYAG (KUSNETSOV CLASS)



LIAONING

Now, lets' do the Indian carrier, Vikramaditya.

Very similar time line to the Liaoning, but they took one of the earlier Russian carriers, the last of the Kiev class, the Gorshkov, and had it converted. So, they go from the Russian Moskva, to the Kiev class, and then to their Vikramaditya:

MOSKVA CLASS



KIEV CLASS



VIKRAMADITYA

Jeff Head said:

Just for memories sake, here's a short history on how the Liaoning came to be.

It was developed from the Russian Kuznetsov class carrier, the Varyag, that was never completed and was then sold by the Ukraine to China after the Soviet Union fell apart.

The Kuznetsov itself was the genesis of two prior carrier classes by the Soviets, the Moskva class (of which two were built) and the Kiev class (of which four were built).

So you have the Moskva class (1960s), the Kiev class (1970s), the Varyag (1980s)...and then the Liaoning, commissioned in 2012.


VARYAG (KUSNETSOV CLASS)

View attachment 23231

LIAONING

View attachment 23232

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An amazing project taking that old scow, and transforming her into the Liaoning, re-engineering and rebuilding her into a very attractive, sea worthy vessel, this will stand as one of the most amazing naval projects of all time.

test bd said:

Yes tis I the forever skeptic. First off that photo could have been taken at dawn or dusk. I want to see some traps and launches when the sun is down...that's all..kinda like this.

Have they performed night ops? I don't know for sure.

Jeff, if you have photos of a night launch or recovery please post.

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Popeye, the best I have ever seen is the following two pics, one of which I posted on this thread a couple of years ago, and they were doing it with their prototype aircraft.:





This shows a landing...either at dusk, or early in the morning.

I have not seen Chinese pictures of full on afterburner takeoffs...or of arrested landings in the dark of night. You will know it when you see it.

The Indian's do it with their Mig-29Ks on the Vikramaditya, and don't mind showing it off:





Here's a video of that particular Indian Mig-29K take off.


...and here's a night time landing on the Vikramaditya:

1. 001A expected to be launched around April 2016.

2. Work on 002 will commence at the earliest in Spring 2016, twin steam.

What would it be nice to see vikramaditya and liaoning togheter.
Has an kiev class ever sailed togheter with an kuznetsov class actually??

I always said that although china is late in the game they would be working faster and as such would catch India in the carrier game and soon surpass them

CV-16 gives 1 squadron of 24 x J15
001A gives 1 more 24 x J15
002 gives 1-2 more naval squadrons of 36 x J15

That's 2 x STOBAR and 1 x CATOBAR

If they go EMALS we could see 2 full strength squadrons of 48 x J15 on the carrier

A very powerful naval aviation force