PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)

The caption says that 'the third module for the hangar bay is being assembled'...

it would be interesting if anybody still doubting it is a carrier at this stage

Great progress very fast progress

We all knew China is late but they make up for it with speed

It will be a disappointment if this carrier is just a copy of the Admiral Kuznetsov class. I certainly hope that they will have brought changes and improvements to the design. Like a wider flight deck bigger hangar deck and a smaller island structure at the least. A catapult on the angled deck will be a huge bonus.

A full out catapult carrier (without the ski jump) would be a most welcomed surprise.

Quickie said:

A full out catapult carrier (without the ski jump) would be a most welcomed surprise.

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That is at this point still possible. But has anyone seen any clear evidence of a catapult program in China ? Steam or EMALS a like ? A full CATOBAR carrier would mean that they have to retrain their pilots and deck crew. And maybe even redesign the plane. A STOBAR/CATOBAR combo is at the same time progress and playing it safe. If they have issues with the deck crew or pilots or plane. Then the carrier doesn't have to sit idle for long periods of time and instead just operate it like a STOBAR carrier as they have trained and working to fix the problems at the same time.

I very highly doubt it will be CATOBAR

This is most likely a Liaoning with improvements that's improvements not additions

002 would be CATOBAR

Franklin said:

It will be a disappointment if this carrier is just a copy of the Admiral Kuznetsov class. I certainly hope that they will have brought changes and improvements to the design. Like a wider flight deck bigger hangar deck and a smaller island structure at the least. A catapult on the angled deck will be a huge bonus.

Click to expand...

extremely unlikely, even Liaoning is quite different than Adm. Kuznetsov (a lot better). This baby will be significantly different (much better) than even Liaoning in very much everything, including engine, island and hangar. But time will tell

I think, the aircraft carrier now under construction will externally have little differences to Liaoning. The main distinguishing feature will be the slightly different radar on the island.

I'm still hoping to see a streamlined hull and improved hangar section etc.

Looking at the long lifetime of such carriers it would be sad to see if China is too conservative.