Posted on 08/12/2020 3:56:10 PM PDT by KC_Lion
Seoul, South Korea (CNN)South Korea plans to start building its first aircraft carrier next year, and acquire fighter jets to operate on it, the country's Defense Ministry has announced.
Last year, South Korea hinted at its interest in an aircraft carrier, saying it would build a "multi-purpose large transport vessel." But in its national plan for 2021-2025, published this week, the government for the first time explicitly committed to building the billion-dollar equipment.
"The 30,000-ton level aircraft carrier can transport military forces, equipment and materials and can operate fighter jets that are capable of vertical take-off and landing," said the Defense Ministry release.
"It will enable the military to more effectively suppress threats and dispatch forces and materials to a disputed region in the sea by playing a role of a controlling vessel for the navy unit."
It is expected South Korea will purchase US-made F-35B fighter jets, which have short takeoff and vertical landing capability, compatible with a small aircraft carrier. F-35Bs are the only short take-off and vertical landing fighter jets in production in the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
For your interest.
That’s a puny aircraft carrier. The Great Leader and Supreme Benevolent Ruler will sever North Korea from the continent and put engines on it to become the largest aircraft carrier in world.
China is doing a remarkably efficient job of pissing off every neighbor in the region and getting them all to arm themselves.
Well said!
That’s a helicopter carrier. Doesn’t even have a ramp.
Indeed! The PRC is uniting the region...against the PRC.
Read the article. It is being built for the F-35B.
Perhaps Iran could turn that into an industry. Kinda like a blend of Ikea and a ship yard.
Order your flatpack DIY aircraft carrier today!
Something tells me the S. Koreans will have their aircraft carrier operational before the Chicoms ever get the bugs out their 2, even with a 10 year head start
There are two aircraft carriers sitting in Bremerton that can be retrofitted for this task.
Can’t they move an AC Group Unit from the Atlantic Group over to the PG, to replace it? (I have no military background, obviously...)
I know. Even the Brits use a ramp for STOL. VTOL burns a lot of fuel.
Bear in mind that the illustration provided is thought to be only a concept, as many specifics of the ship are still shrouded in secrecy. Perhaps the built article will have a ski-jump. Perhaps not. We’ll see.
It seems like it either needs a ramp or a catapult. Without either they burn up all the fuel taking off their jets. They’ll have to be refueled in flight.
STOL/VL stands for "Short Take Off/Vertical Landing" which is how the Marines flew their Harrier jets. Sure, they could take off vertically if you leave armaments and a lot of fuel on the ship.
IMO they will need some sort of catapult system.
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