PLA Navy news, pics and videos

[shiftenter]

Source: see watermark. This platform appears faster and cheaper than submarines and has lower detectability than conventional surface vessels. To be effective, it must be integrated into system-of-systems warfare for targeting and guidance. Survivability may be relatively high, as it likely requires specialized countermeasures to defeat.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

View attachment 166129
View attachment 166130
Source: see watermark. This platform appears faster and cheaper than submarines and has lower detectability than conventional surface vessels. To be effective, it must be integrated into system-of-systems warfare for targeting and guidance. Survivability may be relatively high, as it likely requires specialized countermeasures to defeat.

This is basically the CG model of the trimaran submersible/submarine, which is discussed in the SSK-N thread.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Some quotes from CMPR 2025:

China continues to be the top commercial ship-producing nation in the world by most industry measures and has sufficient capacity to produce large numbers of naval submarines, surface combatants, and auxiliary and amphibious ships. China has been constructing major new shipyards, such as Hudong Shipyard on Changxing Island, during the last ten years to replace smaller and older yards as well as increase commercial and naval shipbuilding output. In December 2024, the first aircraft landing operation reportedly occurred on the Fujian, China’s first domestically designed and manufactured aircraft carrier, which features an electromagnetic launch system. Concurrently, in late December 2024, China launched its first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, which also features an electromagnetic catapult and likely will carry UAVs. In early 2025, Chinese researchers claimed that China had developed the first new drone, the Feyi, that can be launched by and return to a submarine, and repeatedly transit between the sea and air for reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions. Also in early 2025, China commissioned its first Type 054B new generation frigate, which is larger than the Type 054A, has enhanced firepower, and can carry larger utility helicopters, such as the Z-20.

In the maritime domain, the PLA Navy (PLAN) completed the inaugural sea trials of its third aircraft carrier—Fujian, also known as CV-18—in May. This is the PLAN’s first indigenously designed aircraft carrier. It is larger than the PLAN’s previous two aircraft carriers and is its first
flat-deck carrier. The PLAN likely intends for Fujian’s future airwing to include the J-35 stealth fighter, J-15T fighter jet, J-15D electronic warfare aircraft, Z-20 helicopter, KJ-600 early warning aircraft, and various UAVs. The PLAN aims to produce six aircraft carriers by 2035 for a total of nine. In October 2024, the PLAN’s two operational aircraft carriers—Liaoning and Shandong—conducted dual-carrier operations for the first time. The training occurred in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, and aimed to improve integrated combat capabilities, with J-15s operating from Liaoning’s deck.

So, uh... No mentioning of Fujian's commissioning ceremony in November 2025? Like, really? Literally the biggest news of the year for the PLAN and zero statement of that? Let alone the J-15T, J-35 and KJ-600 conducting CATOBAR operation/trials on Fujian (and the first 5th-gen EMCAT launch on carrier even)?

No mention of the 076 LHD conducting sea trials either. Let alone some others...

 

[00CuriousObserver]

"The PLAN aims to produce six aircraft carriers by 2035 for a total of nine."

?

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

There's also this:

As of 2024, China is reducing its historical dependence on Russian and Ukrainian aircraft engines by increasingly manufacturing its own engines for military aircraft and ships, compared to the last five years. Ukraine remained a large source of China's imports, supplying gas turbines for destroyers and engines for China's L-15 trainer/light combat aircraft. Russia’s war on Ukraine probably will impede China’s ability to acquire military equipment and maintenance services from either country.

Bruh wtf - We're already in 2025, and they still believe that all the 052D and 055 DDGs are still using GT25000 gas turbine engines sourced from a war-torn Ukraine? Truly lmfao

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

"The PLAN aims to produce six aircraft carriers by 2035 for a total of nine."

?

Firstly, if the claim of China building a CV and CVN concurrently right now still holds true (which seems to be what Otter has hinted just a few days ago), both these carriers can certainly be launched by 2030.

Next, if this is followed by at least one additional CV or CVN being laid down and constructed not long after either or both the aforementioned CV and CVN is/are launched - Then having 6 carriers built (not commissioned) by 2035 is a reasonable possibility.

 

[Blitzo]

If the claim of China building a CV and CVN concurrently right now still holds true (which seems to be what Otter has hinted just a few days ago), both these carriers can certainly be launched by 2030.

If this is followed by at least one additional CV or CVN being laid down and constructed not long after either or both the aforementioned CV and CVN is/are launched - Then having 6 carriers built (not commissioned) by 2035 is a reasonable possibility.

Yes, but six carriers by 2035 "for a total of nine" doesn't quite make sense to me.

It implies nine total in the water by 2035 (which would require six more to be launched between now and 2035).

Tbh this whole report is somewhat rubbish anyway so chances are whichever group of interns put it together didn't think too deeply about what was being written.

 

[tamsen_ikard]

Yes, but six carriers by 2035 "for a total of nine" doesn't quite make sense to me.

It implies nine total in the water by 2035 (which would require six more to be launched between now and 2035).

Tbh this whole report is somewhat rubbish anyway so chances are whichever group of interns put it together didn't think too deeply about what was being written.

China has produced 5 total amphibious assault ships in the last 5-6 years with 40k ton displacement. They have tremendous ability to produce large ships fast. So, I dont think its that difficult for them to launch 6 in 10 years if they have a mature design and are in mass production mode.

If this pentagon estimate is accurate, my feeling is that they will produce several fujian class carriers while maybe only 2 nuclear carriers, since nuclear carrier is still new for them.

 

[Blitzo]

China has produced 5 total amphibious assault ships in the last 5-6 years with 40k ton displacement. They have tremendous ability to produce large ships fast. So, I dont think its that difficult for them to launch 6 in 10 years if they have a mature design and are in mass production mode.

If this pentagon estimate is accurate, my feeling is that they will produce several fujian class carriers while maybe only 2 nuclear carriers, since nuclear carrier is still new for them.

The theoretical viability of them launching six carriers in 10 years is not a question -- we all know that it is technically doable.

The problem is that this report is casually throwing it out there as a possibility without actually substantiating it, which in context of the rest of the poor quality report should make us question whether anyone actually checked what was actually being written.


Putting it another way, for us, it's probably useful to ignore the CMPR, and that there's nothing really useful there and if there is anything eyebrow raising (like the idea of 9 carriers in the water by 2035) it is probably not a prediction so much as just someone typing random words without actually knowing what they're saying.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Yes, but six carriers by 2035 "for a total of nine" doesn't quite make sense to me.

It implies nine total in the water by 2035 (which would require six more to be launched between now and 2035).

Tbh this whole report is somewhat rubbish anyway so chances are whichever group of interns put it together didn't think too deeply about what was being written.

I'm taking the "total of nine" phrase as what Pentagon believes to be the eventual total number of carriers that the PLAN is expected to equip later on (i.e. post-2035).