CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Again, this is a new class of aircraft carrier. They need to be patient and learning. I am sure that as they fix out the difficulties, the construction would pick up.
The 2020s is the learning decade, the 2030s will be the buildup phase.
The decisions taken today will shape PLA a hundred years from now, so no need to hurry.
By overlapping the constructions they can build up more combat capability sooner. Even though a new platform is not perfect, but still it can add a lot of combat capability.
I find it doubtful this is real, given that the markings on the landing strip are far too intensive than what you would expect for a ship that has only been on sea trials for two days, even assuming they had begun aviation trials already (which would be utterly insane to think how many recoveries they would've done for that many skid marks to have accumulated).
To anyone reading, I strongly encourage them to not post this to twitter or reddit please.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
Are you refering to the 'vertical frames'?
That's the bumper .. quite literally. Its also called a stern dock. It's definitely not a door LOL.
The biggest exterior diff between this and USN carriers is 1 less elevator and lack of fantail opening.
The aircraft workshops are located at the stern.. fantail openings typical used for turbine testing.
The lack of one tells me Fujian operations is limited to mostly regional and they do not intend to repair or do any heavy engine maintainaince or repairs onboard.
Given how China is still somewhat of a newbie when it comes to aircraft carrier and carrier-based aviation operations, coupled with the PLAN's typical cautious, 小步快跑's nature - I'd think that we should be thankful if we can see 5 carrier hulls in the water by 2035.
Unless, of course, if the PLAN is finally satisfied with the 004 (if the 4th CV is a half-sister to Fujian) or the 005 (with the 4th CV also being a one-off ship, whether nuclear-powered or conventionally-powered) such that subsequent CVs can be put into serial production, then we might be able to see more than 5 CVs existing in various states by 2035.
