1st Chinese carrier Liaoning beside USS America, here referred to as a "light carrier":.jpg)
1st Chinese carrier Liaoning beside USS America, here referred to as a "light carrier":
It should be noted that the USS America is not smaller version of a US fleet aircraft carrier design but rather an redesigned LHA without a well deck. It is aviation dedicated amphibious assault ship capable of operating helicopters and STOVL aircraft (AV-8B and F-35B) only. There is no arresting gear or catapult/ski ramp to support CTOL aircraft operations. While a large ship at 40K+ tons displacement, it is still is about 40K tons lighter in displacement than a standard US fleet aircraft carrier.
Comments about the propulsion systems of the CV 17 and subsequent PLAN carrier designs are quite interesting. The CV 16 is the ex-Varyag and the CV 17 is being reported as a Chinese refinement of that Soviet-era design. Soviet/Russian naval engineering is weak in large surface combatant propulsion plant design. The only nuclear powered large surface combatant ever built by the Soviets was the Kirov class battle cruiser. The Kirovs were few in number and did not have a good operational record. The Chinese do not have a proven Soviet design to draw upon for a starting point. Since the program risk of building a large displacement aircraft carrier with a new and unproven nuclear power plant design is probably very high, the Chinese might built a Kirov type large surface combatant in part to develop a reliable large nuclear plant design.