Henri K take on the latest Cv17 trial
Type 002: 4th exit at sea for the 2nd Chinese aircraft carrier
BY
A little more than 7 weeks after the end of his last test at the sea, which took place recently from October 28th to November 6th in an area 100 km south of Dalian, the 2nd Chinese aircraft carrier again lifted anchor last Thursday for a new test campaign.
This is the fourth time that the quasi-sistership of "
Liaoning " has taken off to the sea since its launch in late April 2017. The entry into service of the new Chinese aircraft carrier is still given for Q3 2019 according to our estimate.
Compared to its last outing, the ship moving about 60,000 tonnes is distinguished this time by the presence of the 4 stopping lines, now installed on the flight deck. But there is no reason to suppose that landing tests will take place on board.
On the other hand, the three full-size models already present last time, namely a J-15 electronic warfare version, a Z-8 helicopter and a Z-9 light helicopter, were seen on the deck of the aircraft carrier at its departure. It can then be assumed that the onboard aviation support equipment will continue to be tested and adjusted.
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Two days before departure, the arresting wire are clearly visible on the flight deck.
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Departure of the 2nd aircraft carrier for its 4th exit to the sea (Photos: 香港 文匯報)
As with its last outing, the Type 002 aircraft carrier is expected to evolve again south of Dalian, but in a smaller area than the previous one.
The LN-297 Navigation Alert, issued by the Liaoning Province Maritime Safety Bureau, prohibits access to all unauthorized vessels within 149 km - or 1,048 km² - because of "military operations". From December 26th at 8:00 am to December 30th at 6:00 pm Beijing time.
Note that this area is actually within those of the first three outputs, which are virtually identical.
辽航警0297
黄海北部,自12月26日0800时至30日1800时,在
1. 38 ° 45'00 "N 122 ° 23'00" E
2. 38 ° 45'00 "N 122 ° 36'00" E
3. 38 ° 15'00 "N 122 ° 36'00" E
4. 38 ° 15'00 "N 122 ° 23'00" E
诸 点 连线 内 执行 执行 军事 任务 任务 任务 任务 任务 任务 任务 任务.
Le 2e porte-avions de la marine chinoise pourrait mener son 4e essai à la mer avant la fin d'année, du 26 au 30 Décembre précisément, mais c'est à confirmer. Les dernières photos de la presse chinoise Wen Hui Bao (文汇报) montrent que le bâtiment est prêt à partir.
If the duration of 26 to 30 December - 5 days in all - may seem short in comparison with previous releases, especially that the aircraft carrier left only the 27 finally, it is not excluded that the tests will continue in another place in Bohai Bay if one believes in a second notification from the Chinese authorities.
In fact, another no-access zone has been reported by the LN-0301 navigation alert. This 92.7-kilometer zone is located near several Chinese Navy test and military installations, including the Xingcheng Air Training Pilot Training Center.
It is therefore possible that the Chinese pilots and their J-15s, or with JL-9G advanced training planes, make overflights and circles around the new aircraft carrier to check the various aeronautical tracking and guidance equipment, before the deck tests are performed later on the ship's next seagoing.
辽航警0301
渤海,自2018年12月29日0800时至2019年1月11日1800时,在
1. 39 ° 43'00 "N 120 ° 07'00" E
2. 39 ° 43'00 "N 120 ° 20'00" E
3. 39 ° 28'00 "N 120 ° 20'00" E
4. 39 ° 28'00 "N 120 ° 07'00" E
诸 点 连线 内 执行 执行 军事 任务 任务 任务 任务 任务 任务 任务.
The latter is of course only a working hypothesis. We are closely following the official date of the return to the aircraft carrier and institutional communications to confirm, or deny, this.
Henri K.
