PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)

plawolf said:

Breaking news is that UCLASS has been quietly canned...

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Source? Even if it is canned as we know it in it's present form, I guarantee you the work and efforts put into it will eventually mature into something relatively similar. The navy is VERY serious about carrier borne UAVs in the future. That hasn't change.

kwaigonegin said:

Source? Even if it is canned as we know it in it's present form, I guarantee you the work and efforts put into it will eventually mature into something relatively similar. The navy is VERY serious about carrier borne UAVs in the future. That hasn't change.

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If the reason for cancelling really was to protect manned F35 numbers, then it's hard to see the programme coming back, as any attempt to resurrect the programme as something similar will ultimately run into the same vest interests, unless a rival develops such a capability and they are forced into developing a counter.

It would be a real shame and disappointment if this is true.

kwaigonegin said:

Source? Even if it is canned as we know it in it's present form, I guarantee you the work and efforts put into it will eventually mature into something relatively similar. The navy is VERY serious about carrier borne UAVs in the future. That hasn't change.

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plawolf said:

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If the reason for cancelling really was to protect manned F35 numbers, then it's hard to see the programme coming back, as any attempt to resurrect the programme as something similar will ultimately run into the same vest interests, unless a rival develops such a capability and they are forced into developing a counter.

It would be a real shame and disappointment if this is true.

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From what I understand, the USN has given up on an ISR/strike UCAV (UCLASS), but has replaced it with a new carrier borne UAV with a primary tanker role -- called "CBARS" (Carrier Based Aerial Refueling System) -- and it may have secondary ISR and strike roles, but it will be a number of years until the CBARS is developed into a UAV with strike role and ISR as its primary mission, let alone a UCAV that can truly conduct long range strike missions into contested airspace.




So yes, the USN is most definitely still very serious about carrier borne UAVs, but it will be a few years util we see a true

Well, there are definitely those who want to give up on the UCLASS (X-47B) but I am not surprised by this admin and the people they have appointed.

I suspect all of that would change starting next year with a new admin in office.

But we shall just have to see.

At some point, the work done with the X-47B in terms of providing a stealthy unmanned platform to perform strike missions...controlled either by sat from ship or shore based locations, or by a trailing F/A-18F or F-35C will be realized. I am very confidant of that.

But this is OT On the PLAN carrier thread. I will copy the entire discussion over to the X-47B thread and it can be continued there if desired.

...well, as we wait.

What are the latest pictures of the carrier building at Dalian?

Seems like we ought to get something soon after the holidays perhaps?

Seems like it was a while before the holiday that we saw the last pics.

An update on the carrier's construction, gentlemen. This was posted almost a week ago (14 February). I'm not quite sure how we missed it, but we did. I came across it by chance just now so I thought I'd share.

Higgle said:

I'm not quite sure how we missed it, but we did.

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It was added on 15 JAN 2016 and I think, it is mentioned somewhere in this monsterthread.

On 25 JAN 2016 the module opposite was already added.

Intrepid said:

It was added on 15 JAN 2016 and I think, it is mentioned somewhere in this monsterthread.

On 25 JAN 2016 the module opposite was already added.

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You're right. Apologies for that—I misread the date as February 14 when it was actually January 14. False alarm.

I don't think it'll be long before we see another update, though.

But this is a new one ....