Stuttgart001
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Steam catapult is completely practical, and EMALS is not a big deal and would be ok in less than 5 years.That's new, I don't know about next '003' will have, but EMALS experiment still underway, don't know if it will ready according schedule. And still nothing about kind of nuclear reactor that possibly planned for next AC. So in 10 years, are you sure?
Don't forget, smaller AC mean smaller escort, till the mature AC come up, I think that what China need for now. For next story for 001, 001a after China AC mature nobody know for now, maybe for regional use only while bigger AC going global, maybe lend to 'China friend' elsewhere, but surely they will not become floating museum or floating hotel, haha.
The real problem is the schedule of nuclear reactor.
If the second indigenous carrier was nuclear powered, there is a high probability that EMAL would be on board.
If not, stream catapult would definitrly be operated.
Compared to a carrier with the capability of stream catapulting take-off, "Liaoning" and "001A" is very weaker on either defense or offense .
In addition, it would be a disaster and a huge waste of money that the naval pilots should be trained for two different take-off capability.
The build cost of the carrier is much less than the cost of maintaining a CBG conprised of escort ships and SSNK and squadrons deployed.
It is reasonable and cost-effective to build a new powerful carrier for a CBG whose key strength comes from the figther jets , AWAC and EW planes on board, given the cash poured into maintaining the CBG.
"Liaoning" and "001A" are not qualified for training pilots in future,cause the jets must ski-jump take off them.
I think the only way for them is retired or sell ,after the new carriers with catapults entered service massively.