CV-18 Fujian - Type 003 Aircraft Carrier News & Discussions

[ChineseTiger1986]

Sorry but I need to correct you, nuclear power is not combustion based propulsion, you convert heat into steam. Therefore you will still a steam driven system. Your propulsion would be a steam turbine or electric propulsion energized by steam. Nuclear power is always coupled with steam, gas turbine on the other hand is combustion driven, direct heat to propulsion.

The nuclear power is nuclear reactor + steam turbine, whereas the conventional steam power is boiler + steam turbine.

China doesn't have the boiler to power a 70,000 tons class carrier with catapult.

 

[Deino]

Finally again

https://twitter.com/x/status/1247995103567917056

 

[kungfugymnast]

The nuclear power is nuclear reactor + steam turbine, whereas the conventional steam power is boiler + steam turbine.

China doesn't have the boiler to power a 70,000 tons class carrier with catapult.

Look at US conventional aircraft carrier USS America class, they don't need nuclear reactor for for the catapult launch. Only EMALS required nuclear reactor to generate electricity for the magnetic rail launch. Why is it so difficult for China to come up with steam catapult?

 

[Deino]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1248240103903744001

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Look at US conventional aircraft carrier USS America class, they don't need nuclear reactor for for the catapult launch. Only EMALS required nuclear reactor to generate electricity for the magnetic rail launch. Why is it so difficult for China to come up with steam catapult?

China doesn't have those super powerful boilers to power a 70,000 tons aircraft carrier with catapults.

The conventional boiler is old technology, and it is not worthy to waste too much money and time, why not to go straight forward with nuclear powered one when it is available?

 

[kungfugymnast]

China doesn't have those super powerful boilers to power a 70,000 tons aircraft carrier with catapults.

The conventional boiler is old technology, and it is not worthy to waste too much money and time, why not to go straight forward with nuclear powered one when it is available?

China can't create catapult that already existed during 60's? Even French old Clemenceau carrier been using catapult launch for old etendard

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

China can't create catapult that already existed during 60's? Even French old Clemenceau carrier been using catapult launch for old etendard

Not the catapult, but the boiler.

China possesses both steam catapult and EMALS.

The boiler is old obsolete technology, so China doesn’t need to re-invent the wheel again, but better to go with the more sophisticated nuclear powered one.

 

[kungfugymnast]

Not the catapult, but the boiler.

China possesses both steam catapult and EMALS.

The boiler is old obsolete technology, so China doesn’t need to re-invent the wheel again, but better to go with the more sophisticated nuclear powered one.

Why do they bother to build conventional Type 002 carrier if they have both steam catapult and EMALS technology? Ski jump launch carrier, the J-15 can't fill more than 15,000lb of internal fuel and carries only air to air missiles or 2x anti-ship missiles to keep maximum take off weight below 69,000lb or 65,000lb. Also catapult steam launch is mechanical, easier to fix and more practical compared to EMALS, why didn't they fit catapult steam launch on Type 002? I can't think of good reason unless PLAN intended to come up with STOVL fighters for Type 001 & 002 in future while J-15 will be transferred to Type 003 that is nuclear powered with EMALS

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Why do they bother to build conventional Type 002 carrier if they have both steam catapult and EMALS technology? Ski jump launch carrier, the J-15 can't fill more than 15,000lb of internal fuel and carries only air to air missiles or 2x anti-ship missiles to keep maximum take off weight below 69,000lb or 65,000lb. Also catapult steam launch is mechanical, easier to fix and more practical compared to EMALS, why didn't they fit catapult steam launch on Type 002? I can't think of good reason unless PLAN intended to come up with STOVL fighters for Type 001 & 002 in future while J-15 will be transferred to Type 003 that is nuclear powered with EMALS

The third carrier was originally intended to use the steam catapult, but later switched to the EMALS because the EMALS was proven to be far superior in a contest.

So instead of building a 70,000 tons conventional carrier with steam catapult, China had finally decided to move on with a much bigger one (presumably nuclear powered) with the EMALS.

 

[kungfugymnast]

The third carrier was originally intended to use the steam catapult, but later switched to the EMALS because the EMALS was proven to be far superior in a contest.

So instead of building a 70,000 tons conventional carrier with steam catapult, China had finally decided to move on with a much bigger one (presumably nuclear powered) with the EMALS.

Wait and see how Type 003 going to be like. Just wanted to see what will they do with Type 001 & 002 later after there's EMALS nuclear powered carrier.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Wait and see how Type 003 going to be like. Just wanted to see what will they do with Type 001 & 002 later after there's EMALS nuclear powered carrier.

The supercarrier will likely be launched by mid 2021, so it will definitely take into shape by late 2020 with the island structure.

 

[kungfugymnast]

The supercarrier will likely be launched by mid 2021, so it will definitely take into shape by late 2020 with the island structure.

That is still some time to go, 1 year later. Their new naval fighter J35 development will only start after the carrier launch system is confirmed available and working that is after completion of its superstructure working reactor and EMALS.

 

[waja2000]

Why do they bother to build conventional Type 002 carrier if they have both steam catapult and EMALS technology? Ski jump launch carrier, the J-15 can't fill more than 15,000lb of internal fuel and carries only air to air missiles or 2x anti-ship missiles to keep maximum take off weight below 69,000lb or 65,000lb. Also catapult steam launch is mechanical, easier to fix and more practical compared to EMALS, why didn't they fit catapult steam launch on Type 002? I can't think of good reason unless PLAN intended to come up with STOVL fighters for Type 001 & 002 in future while J-15 will be transferred to Type 003 that is nuclear powered with EMALS

Type 002 carrier to build urgently since PLA feel unstable in region, especially Taiwan, south China Sea. 2nd reason is construction & maintenance prospective, since they built Type 001, many parts, component is not ideal just built/keep for 1 ship, they need at lease 2nd unit for economic of scale for such large ship. By the time design freeze, I don’t think EMALS is ready.
Catapult steam launch is not better than EMALS if EMALS work properly. steam launch have few cons since it develop 60 years ago. Compared to steam catapults, EMALS weighs less, occupies less space, and requires less maintenance and manpower. Means a lot cost saving operation. And EMALS is future tech to integrate to navy ship new generation Integrate Electric Propulsion System (IEPS), EMALS so flexible to adjust launch power just by computer, and so can support different weight of UAV launch.
The Issue in US EMALS is not proper design and test in ground so they facing alot of issue. (from news)

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

That is still some time to go, 1 year later. Their new naval fighter J35 development will only start after the carrier launch system is confirmed available and working that is after completion of its superstructure working reactor and EMALS.

It depends, if the Type 003 could be commissioned by 2025, then we might expect to see it carrying the next gen naval aircraft fighters in just a couple of years later.

 

[kungfugymnast]

Type 002 carrier to build urgently since PLA feel unstable in region, especially Taiwan, south China Sea. 2nd reason is construction & maintenance prospective, since they built Type 001, many parts, component is not ideal just built/keep for 1 ship, they need at lease 2nd unit for economic of scale for such large ship. By the time design freeze, I don’t think EMALS is ready.
Catapult steam launch is not better than EMALS if EMALS work properly. steam launch have few cons since it develop 60 years ago. Compared to steam catapults, EMALS weighs less, occupies less space, and requires less maintenance and manpower. Means a lot cost saving operation. And EMALS is future tech to integrate to navy ship new generation Integrate Electric Propulsion System (IEPS), EMALS so flexible to adjust launch power just by computer, and so can support different weight of UAV launch.
The Issue in US EMALS is not proper design and test in ground so they facing alot of issue. (from news)

Got it, just need 2 working carriers as substitute while waiting for the proper nuclear powered carrier. However the J15 are lacking AESA radar for the 2 operational carriers limited to less fuel and payload to take off from less efficient ski ramp.

It depends, if the Type 003 could be commissioned by 2025, then we might expect to see it carrying the next gen naval aircraft fighters in just a couple of years later.

2025 is quite long wait, it will delay the naval fighter project further.