Posted on 11/10/2021 6:13:54 AM PST by artichokegrower
China is three to six months from launching its third and most modern aircraft carrier, new analysis shows, in what would be a milestone for President Xi Jinping’s effort to project power into the high seas.
The Jiangnan Shipyard near Shanghai has made “steady progress” this year on the vessel, known for now as Type 003, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said in the report dated Tuesday. The center, a Washington-based think tank, added that satellite imagery shows “that the installation of the carrier’s main external components is nearing completion.”
(Excerpt) Read more at gcaptain.com ...
This is the type 003 carrier described, not the type 002 shown.
dvwjr
There are several unambiguous pics that make it clear the Type 003 has no bow ramp for takeoffs, instead it has two now cats and two cats on the port side.
Dammit I hate autofill, it should say bow cats not now cats.
Just checking post.
What a Slope
It doubles as a ski resort in winter................
The ship already banged into something as it’s bow is bent upward....
Looks like this is just a ‘national prestige’ object, and not a realistic force projection weapon.
In between the Midway and Forretstal Class Carriers. Dated 1950’s design and more of a training and regional power projection tool than a Blue Water Carrier. Trust me as former Carrier Sailor given the problems with the under powered J-15 Fighters this carrier would not be able to project power too far from home and would have to be withdrawn from any conflict within days (because of the lack of carrier air to air refueling capabilities, very limited AEW-stolen E-2 Tech) similar to the Russian Carrier in Syria. If the Indian and Chinese Navy’s engaged in a conflict that involved their carries (3 China vs 2 Indian) my money is on India. Because the Indians have decades of Naval Aviation experience vs China basiacally getting into the game about a decade ago.
Yep. It’s basically more of a signal than a threat. Add that everyone serving on it is an only child and not motivated by serving in the military as it is not considered an all important “good job”.
That pic is of the older type. It has a ski jump type takeoff. The new type 3 is going to have catapults. Catapults add a lot of capabilities, but I don’t know if China has any aircraft capable of being shot off deck without ripping the gear off.
With the ski-jump bow, it’s a knockoff or an update of the Russian aircraft carriers.
The United States Navy has been running day, night, and all-weather operations with flattops for almost a century (+/-96 years since they began 24-hour operations). The USN has more carrier launches and recoveries (of fighter aircraft) than all the other navies in the world combined. And America has paid a dear price in blood en route to learning to operate them in any sea and at any time and as safely as is humanly possible.
So if the Red Chinese get to feeling froggy and decide to try their luck with their new carriers against the US, they would be wise to stock up on glass-bottom boats. At least then they'll be able to see for themselves what became of their carriers.
Not very impressive, IMHO...
Chicoms have been using launch bar J-15s from shore bases for years. Very under powered aircraft by their own admission.
That thing looks amazingly small for a carrier!!!!
The U.S. military is no threat to China and they know it. U.S. military is more concerned with protecting trans rights and purging its ranks of “White Terrorist” than they are about preparing for possible war.
Oh please, they wouldn’t stand a chance!!!
“Looks like this is just a ‘national prestige’ object, and not a realistic force projection weapon.”
Agreed, the PLAN has already lost aircraft and crew during their initial workups and training conducted on their two ski-jump STOBAR carriers. When they get the Type 003 CATOBAR carrier in operation, look for losses to soar. They do not have to recreate and relearn all of the lessons that the US Navy endured in establishing its unequaled Naval Aviation capabilities. However, the Chinese Naval aviation effort will suffer losses and setbacks that they do not envision.
US Navy Jet transition - 1954
The US Navy and Marines lost 776 aircraft and 535 aircrew in this single year. These were not combat loses but mishaps; are the PLAN ready for even a portion of this level of loses as they attempt to establish squadrons and integrate them into a functioning carrier Air Wing?Cold War 1949 - 1989
The losses of US Naval aviation, both Navy and Marines during this time period is surprising when looking back from the year 2021. The total loses of aircraft to include helicopters, trainers, and land based patrol planes, in addition to carrier based jets - came to just under 12,000 aircraft and 8,500 aircrew over 40 years, price the US was willing to pay to dominate the USSR at sea.China is not a historical Naval power, will they be willing to pay the price to establish, maintain and upgrade their Naval aviation force structure so as to be an important and credible component of the PLAN force projection capabilities? Or, is it as you said rather a ‘national prestige’ ship to show the world that China (and its population) want to display a bit of that “Top Gun” international glamour by possessing a few big deck carriers. It also might take them a while to build and test capable CATOBAR fighters, AEW, COD, airborne tankers for an Air Wing as they figure out UNREP for their new thirsty carriers.
dvwjr
Well, it’s full of Chinese!................................
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