Featured China's 3rd aircraft carrier 'progressing smoothly'

[beijingwalker]

China's 3rd aircraft carrier 'progressing smoothly'
By Liu Xuanzun
Source: Global Times
Published: 2020/9/13 20:38:40
Warship to be launched in late 2020 or early 2021: reports, experts say

A future aircraft carrier function demonstration model is on display at the newly renovated and expanded Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing in June, 2019. Photo: Liu Xuanzun/GT

It has been nearly two years since the Xinhua News Agency revealed that China's third aircraft carrier was under construction, and recent media reports suggest that work is progressing smoothly and the launch of the warship is near.

A weekend report by a Chinese defense industry magazine predicted that the carrier could be launched as soon as the end of 2020, although experts said on Sunday that the launch could also take place in early 2021.

Citing photos taken by local residents and commercial satellite images widely circulated on social media, Ordnance Industry Science Technology, a Xi'an-based defense magazine, reported on Friday that a dock at Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard was cleared in June, after which the hull sections of what are believed to be the country's third aircraft carrier were brought in for final assembly.

According to photos taken in early September, the general shape of the warship has taken form, with only the bulbous bow missing, the report said.

If everything goes well, the third aircraft carrier should be completed in November or December, be launched by the end of the year and then be fitted out, the report predicted.

Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie told the Global Times on Sunday that the launch date would need to be decided based on the actual progress of construction. While that could happen by the end of the year as the report said, it could also take place in early 2021, which is more likely, if construction goes according to plan.

Chinese military experts predicted in November 2018, when the existence of China's third aircraft carrier was revealed to the general public for the first time by Xinhua, that the warship was expected to be launched in two and a half years.

Xinhua reported at that time that the carrier was being built on a berth.

Unlike the Shandong, China's second aircraft carrier, the third one used a more advanced construction method, in which large hull sections were built in different places and sent to the final assembly site for assembly, Ordnance Industry Science Technology reported, noting that this method can shorten the construction time.

This method is widely used across the world, Li said, noting that after the hull sections are separately built, some outfitting work will be conducted in advance before the final assembly, which will also shorten the total outfitting time.

Citing approximate measurements by military enthusiasts based on these photos, Ordnance Industry Science Technology predicted the size of the third carrier. It said that the warship will be about 320 meters long, surpassing the Shandong's 305 meters.

Although these measurements are only approximate, the report said that this means the third aircraft carrier will surely have a full displacement of more than 80,000 tons, making it a heavy aircraft carrier. By comparison, China's first two carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, have about 60,000-ton full displacements, and are considered medium-sized aircraft carriers, observers said.

Another Chinese military expert, who asked not to be identified, told the Global Times on Sunday that since the new carrier is larger than previous carriers and will likely feature many new technologies including the electromagnetic catapult technology, the ship's construction, outfitting and sea trials could take longer compared with the Shandong.

Judging from the photos, the progress of construction seems to be smooth, the expert noted.

China's 3rd aircraft carrier 'progressing smoothly' - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

 

[beijingwalker]

report by a Chinese defense industry magazine predicted that the carrier could be launched as soon as the end of 2020, although experts said on Sunday that the launch could also take place in early 2021.

This is only 3 months away, Chinese ship building speed is just mind blowing, I've already lost counts of how many large battle ships China had launch so far this year, even with the months long Covid lockdown.

 

[Beast]

Bu

This is only 3 months away, Chinese ship building speed is just mind blowing, I've already lost counts of how many large battle ships China had launch so far this year, even with the months long Covid lockdown.

But their comission ship speed is slow as snail. Until now the second 055 destroyer is still not commission yet. Until now, only 15 052D destroyer in service despite pleny undering refit or sea trial. They take ages to get one ship commission. The crew needs real sea trial and exercise with other ship/fleet to be combat ready. There is no point keep giving single sea trial to train up their proficiency.

 

[beijingwalker]

China To Fast-Track Its Third Aircraft Carrier; Expected To Be Launched By End Of 2020
September 14, 2020

EurAsian Times Desk
As China continues to feel threatened by the growing US presence in the region who is also arming its neighbors with advanced US technology, China could possibly launch its third aircraft carrier by end of 2020 or early 2021, according to reports.


Earlier, there were reports that China is aggressively working on its third and fourth aircraft carriers at the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai which many media outlets in China including state-run Global Times predicted could be launched by 2025.

“The Type 002 aircraft carrier—the country’s third carrier and the second to be domestically developed—has started the final assembly process,” the SCMP had reported, citing its sources. It reported that work on the third aircraft carrier had slowed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic which could delay the process.


The latest reports suggest that that work is advancing seamlessly and the launch of the warship could be near. Another report by a Chinese defense magazine predicted that the carrier could be launched as soon as the end of 2020, although many experts believe that the launch could also take place in early 2021.

Citing pictures taken commercial satellite widely circulated on social media, Ordnance Industry Science Technology, a Chinese defense magazine cites by Global Times reported that a dock at Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard was cleared in June, after which the hull sections of what is believed to be the country’s third aircraft carrier were brought in for final assembly.

If everything goes well, the third aircraft carrier should be completed in November or December, be launched by the end of the year, and then be fitted out, the report stated.

Naval expert Li Jie told the Global Times that the launch date of the aircraft carrier would need to be decided based on the tangible progress of construction. While that could occur by the end of the year as the report said, it could also take place in early 2021, which is more likely, if the work goes according to plan.


According to SCMP, the construction for the second Type 002 will be faster than the first one because engineers have learned and succeeded in tackling a lot of obstacles building the first aircraft carrier. It’s a challenging job because Type 002 is the country’s first domestically designed aircraft carrier.

Unlike the Shandong, China’s second aircraft carrier, the third one used a more advanced construction method, in which large hull sections were built in different places and sent to the final assembly site for assembly, Ordnance Industry Science Technology reported, noting that this method can shorten the construction time.

The third and fourth carriers are beleived to be different in design from the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers and will be significantly larger. Based on the analysis of satellite imagery, the US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies has estimated that the third aircraft carrier would have a displacement of up to 85,000 tonnes almost double than that of INS Vikramaditya.

China To Fast-Track Its Third Aircraft Carrier; Expected To Be Launched By End Of 2020

As China continues to feel threatened by the growing US presence in the region who is also arming its neighbors with advanced US technology, China could possibly launch its third aircraft carrier by end of 2020 or early 2021, according to reports. Hellenic Air Force To Deploy Same Fighter Jets...

eurasiantimes.com

 

[beijingwalker]

China's THIRD aircraft carrier is pictured under construction in Shanghai's 'warship factory' - a 1,000ft titan which threatens the US Navy's supremacy in the South China Sea

• Vessel will be the first modern carrier operated by the PLA Navy which has two outdated Soviet-era carriers
• Washington, which has 12 aircraft carriers in active service, will be closely monitoring the progress of the 'Type 003' carrier in the Jiangnan shipyard, billed as the country's 'warship factory'
• It comes as China looks to assert its dominance in the South China Sea where the US has sailed its warships and conducted drills with allies recently in a show of strength against Beijing's claims on the disputed waters
• The 1,000ft vessel is expected to be completed by the end of the year, and local media claim it will be armed with a new type of electromagnetic catapult capable of launching heavy fighter jets and unmanned drones

By ROSS IBBETSON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 12:34 EDT, 16 September 2020 | UPDATED: 13:24 EDT, 16 September 2020


China's third aircraft carrier has been pictured under construction in Shanghai's 'warship factory' - a 1,000ft titan which threatens the US Navy's supremacy in the South China Sea.

The colossal vessel will be the first full-sized carrier operated by the PLA Navy which has two much smaller Soviet-era carriers in active service.

Washington, which has 11 aircraft carriers in active service, will be closely monitoring the progress of the 'Type 003' carrier in the Jiangnan shipyard on the outskirts of Shanghai.


It comes as China looks to assert its dominance in the South China Sea where the US has sailed its warships and conducted drills with allies in recent months in a show of strength against Beijing's claims on the disputed waters.

The 1,000ft vessel is expected to be completed by the end of the year, and local media claim it will be armed with a new type of electromagnetic catapult capable of launching heavy fighter jets and unmanned drones.

Similar photos obtained by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank, also show sections of the warship being assembled at the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai. The new ship is estimated to be 1,000 feet long and 130 feet wide

Pictures circulating online are believed to show the hull of China's first full-sized aircraft carrier being assembled on a dry dock at the country's 'warship factory' outside Shanghai

The ship would represent a vital step in China's ambitions to create a far-ranging navy that can project power around the world to serve Beijing's expanding global interests, observers said


High-resolution images obtained by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank, reveal for the first time seven hulking sections of the ship laid out from bow to stern.

The blocks of the hull, excluding the spaces between them, stretch to 974ft while the maximum width is 130ft at waterline.

By comparison the USS John F. Kennedy, the US Navy's latest aircraft carrier christened last year, has a length of 1,100ft and a width of 134ft at waterline.

As work progresses on the Chinese carrier, additional blocks will be added before the vessel's superstructure, including the flight deck and island (the command centre), is fitted.

As a result the overall length of the vessel is expected to increase by as much as 60ft.

State-run tabloid The Global Times reported the warship's construction appeared to be 'progressing smoothly', citing an unnamed military expert.

The source also told the state media that the full-sized aircraft carrier is larger than its older vessels and will 'likely feature many new technologies including the electromagnetic catapult'.

This detail will be of particular interest to Washington, which has only developed the technology for its two most most recent aircraft carriers which are the new Gerald R. Ford-class.

The main advantage is providing a smoother acceleration to aircraft which puts less strain on their frames during take-off and therefore allows for a wider variety of planes to be launched, from heavy fighter jets to unmanned drones.

Matthew Funaiole, a researcher at the CSIS ChinaPower project, told The Washington Post: 'It's moving along on pace. It's impressive the process they're going through to position themselves at the forefront of carrier technology.'

He added that 'the Chinese are showing tremendous capability of designing and fitting out vessels.'

China's new aircraft carrier pictured in Shanghai's 'warship factory'

Washington, which has 11 aircraft carriers in active service, will be closely monitoring the progress of the 'Type 003' carrier in the Jiangnan shipyard on the outskirts of Shanghai.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Trango Towers]

Bu

But their comission ship speed is slow as snail. Until now the second 055 destroyer is still not commission yet. Until now, only 15 052D destroyer in service despite pleny undering refit or sea trial. They take ages to get one ship commission. The crew needs real sea trial and exercise with other ship/fleet to be combat ready. There is no point keep giving single sea trial to train up their proficiency.

One word tejas

 

[Figaro]

One word tejas

The only thing Tejas might be good at is for Kamikaze attacks ... it is a small plane after all.

 

[Trango Towers]

The only thing Tejas might be good at is for Kamikaze attacks ... it is a small plane after all.

I was referring to his comment on commissioning at a snails pace

 

[UKBengali]

This will be the only true peer that the USN will face.

 

[Ravenman]

Aircraft carriers are sitting ducks.

They cost to much, and are easy targets.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

The only thing Tejas might be good at is for Kamikaze attacks ... it is a small plane after all.

Out of curiosity, what would it take for China to design a 'commoditized' conventionally-powered 40,000-ton aircraft carrier for export? There's only one country (maybe two) who'd be interested in such a thing if it can afford it, but still...

 

[Figaro]

Out of curiosity, what would it take for China to design a 'commoditized' conventionally-powered 40,000-ton aircraft carrier for export? There's only one country (maybe two) who'd be interested in such a thing if it can afford it, but still...

I thought it already offered a LHD for export before?

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

I thought it already offered a LHD for export before?

Yea, but I was referring to a full-out CATOBAR carrier stocked with J-35s, UCAVs, and KJ-600 as one cohesive package. It could be of interest to Thailand, Brazil, and Pakistan. The LHD could work too if China has a STO/VL fighter in the works.

 

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

Very soon China will surpass the US in naval inventory, good going our Chinese friends.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Aircraft carriers are sitting ducks.

They cost to much, and are easy targets.

How many of these "sitting ducks" have been sunk post World war 2?

Do you think an aircraft carrier sails into enemy waters all on it's own without fighter jets, warships and submarines?