Posted on 08/14/2019 11:11:35 AM PDT by robowombat
Second aircraft carrier can carry 36 J-15 fighters
Global Times
By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2019/8/13 15:54:30
China's second aircraft carrier can carry at least 36 domestically developed J-15 fighter jets, some 50 percent more than the country's first, China's state broadcaster reported on Tuesday.
China's first aircraft carrier the Liaoning can carry 24 J-15 fighter jets, China Central Television (CCTV) reported, noting the new ship's increased number of jets will add to its capability.
Although the second carrier known as the Type 001A is similar to the Liaoning, it has an optimized flight deck, reduced weapon areas and a smaller superstructure with added deck areas, Li Jie, a Beijing naval expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Li noted that it also has an enlarged hangar, but reduced space for missile storage compared to the Liaoning.
These extra areas allow the new carrier to carry 50 percent more J-15 fighter jets, Li said.
The 24 J-15s of the Liaoning could be a limiting factor as regional combat might require about 40 aircraft to seize air supremacy, Li said. The 36 jets on the Type 001A would expand its combat capability, he said.
In addition to the 36 J-15 fighter jets, the Type 001A can carry other types of aircraft including helicopters, Chinese analysts said.
The US operates much larger aircraft carriers, including the Nimitz class which can carry about 60 aircraft, while the country's latest Ford class can carry about 75.
Hu Wenming, chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and head of China's aircraft carrier program, said "China now has a mature development and construction team, and the average age of team members is only 36," CCTV reported.
"Whatever type of aircraft carrier our country wants to develop in the future, we can make it on our own," Hu said.
The team can build any other type of warship given its expertise, Hu noted.
It took 26 months to build and launch the Type 001A, which is China's first domestically developed aircraft carrier, CCTV reported, or almost half the time of a foreign aircraft carrier of similar type to finish construction.
The Type 001A was launched in April 2017 and has undertaken six sea trials since May 2018.
It is reportedly conducting its seventh, after setting sail on August 1. There were no signs the ship had returned to its dock as of press time.
Li said the latest, lengthy sea trial could be in preparation for its final delivery to the Chinese navy.
So, if Carriers are sitting ducks which cannot survive concerted attack, why are countries still building them? Even countries that never had them before...
can carry <> can operate
the chinese have built a jet plane taxi.
because they aren’t sitting ducks and are quite survivable in combat. don’t let sukoi scare you.
Plus it seems like people think our ACs are out there all alone without fleet defenses surrounding them plus sub support.
this place looses its hold on its senses on certain topics; aricraft carriers is frequently one of them.
Ive noticed. I’m no expert, not at all. But people should hold confidence that a United States Aircraft Carrier battle group is the most destructive force humankind has ever had. Tinpot dictators arent going to wipe one out with a rogue missile, c’mon.
Aircraft Carrier Newbies
We have over 80 years of carrier operations, the Chinese maybe 18 months. I will put my money on us. Period.
It will cost the ChiComs many aircraft and pilots before they work out how to run carrier operations all-weather and 24/7, which is something the US has been perfecting for going on 80 years.
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