Posted on 08/24/2016 5:46:10 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The arched bow, known as a ski jump deck, is a feature of China's second aircraft carrier based on a former Soviet design.
TOKYO -- China's first domestically built aircraft carrier will likely be set afloat by the end of the year, according to multiple Chinese military sources.
The country already has an aircraft carrier named the Liaoning, but that vessel is a refurbished former Soviet carrier. Beijing purchased the ship, then known as the Varyag, from Ukraine more than a decade ago.
The new vessel is believed to share its basic design with the Liaoning. The two ships are rather compact for aircraft carriers, weighing around 50,000 tons. Both are powered by conventional engines. The new vessel, under construction at a shipyard in Dalian, Liaoning Province, will carry China's mainstay Shenyang J-15 fighter jets.
China's Ministry of National Defense acknowledged late last year that the country was building its second aircraft carrier, but has been silent about the project since. A photo obtained by The Nikkei shows that the vessel's angled bow, nicknamed a "ski jump" deck, had been mostly completed by early August. The basic construction of the flight deck has now been finished, according to the sources.
Since construction below the flight deck will continue after the ship is afloat, delivery to the navy is believed to still be a year or two away. The carrier likely won't be ready for action for a few more years after that, since pilots of carrier-borne aircraft need extensive training.
There are strong indications that the new carrier will be based at a military port on Hainan Island, which faces the South China Sea.
There has been a rumor that China is building a third aircraft carrier in Shanghai. It has been suggested that this vessel features a catapult. Because the device, seen on U.S. carriers, shortens the distance that aircraft need to take off, it frees up space on the flight deck, enabling the ship to carry more planes.
Some experts believe that the People's Liberation Army plans to have four to six aircraft carrier groups in the near future.
Without aircraft carriers, it would be difficult for China to protect its interests in the East China and South China seas, Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo told the state-run Xinhua News Agency last year.
(Nikkei)
I bet it would make a cool scuba diving reef.
All the smart people here on FR say that they will need 20 years to master the steam catapult.
Until then I predict many injuries for the expendable flight deck peeps.
Never underestimate the enemy. The Dems have once again hollowed out the US military and their weakness is encouraging the Chinese, Russians, North Koreans, Iranians, et.
These “ski jump” flight decks require short take off - vertical landing aircraft to operate effectively. The Brits are (or were) masters of the type with the Harrier. The Russians tried but never really got the hang of it... Does China also have a functional STOVL aircraft to go along with this class of ship? Anybody know?
Not STOVL but STOBAR: Russia and China use variants of the SU-33.
Does the Shenyang J-15 actually work on this deck? It is an arrested landing aircraft.
They will be dragging it back to port.
Shoot, even Brazil has a carrier. They shop for A4’s all over the world for it.
Why would it take them 20 years to master technology that has been around for 60 years or more?
And the ship has arrested landing gear. The technical abbreviation for the design is STOBAR - Short Takeoff But Arrested Recovery. U.S. carriers are CATOBAR - Catapault Takeoff But Arrested Recovery.
It would take them that long to get all the bugs out.
It is a complicated system. There is a lot of stuff that can go wrong.
And of course, training.
If Clinton gets in, she’ll sell them the technology.
They can leapfrog a couple of years with espionage and some help from catapult operators.
http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=35116#.V72hXvl97X4
Not really. Catapults as a whole have been used since the early days of carrier aviation. Steam catapults have been the norm since the 1950's. It's not particularly complex or difficult technology.
And of course, training.
It takes the U.S. Navy about two years to train a pilot, and cat shots are only a part of it. It won't take the Chinese much time to bring their naval aviators up to speed.
I wonder at the quality of their metallurgy, engineering design, and construction? Up to now, the PRC hasn’t been known for high quality technical steel and high attention to detail specifications. Also, the PLA hasn’t been engaged since their border flare up with Vietnam - I think over 30 years ago. A lot of knowledge in every organization is not written down; it’s passed on by personal contact through demonstration and story telling.
If Clinton gets in, she’ll sell them the technology.
That’s right. and in a year or so, she’s be the wealthiest woman on earth.
Donald Trump will bring back RR’s “Peace through strength”.
Chinese Communist Party’s Copied aircraft carrier to hit water by end of year
England doesn’t even attempt to operate catapults.
They have in the past.
The reason it takes US pilots two years for training (if I assume your numbers are correct), is that we've been doing it a lot longer than they have. We also have other crews on carriers, both officer and enlisted, in support of carrier operations. All of them need to be trained as well.
It also takes dedicated logistical resources to support a carrier underway, not to mention fuel, as this is a conventionally-powered ship.
I'm not saying the Chinese won't figure it out, but carrier operations are more than just an ability by their pilots to take off and land in ideal conditions.
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