Chinese Aircraft Carriers - Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian and the future

[Aziqbal]

Wow

After following the Chinese aircraft carrier program for over a decade it is quite unbelievable to see a nuclear powered aircraft carrier under construction

I remember the days when we used to think can China even make a flat deck?

Was it 2011 or 2013 when China built the first demonstration module air craft carrier we got so excited

The biggest flat deck China had was the rear landing deck of the Type 071 LPD !

Finally a CVN

Congratulations China

And only will get better if we see 003A at JNCX in 2026

 

[wangdefa]

I'm more interested in the 004 aircraft carrier, and some people speculate that this is the location of the nuclear-powered boiler.

 

[Michael]

I'm more interested in the 004 aircraft carrier, and some people speculate that this is the location of the nuclear-powered boiler.

There are too many rumors circulating, making it difficult to understand the situation clearly.

According to satellite imagery, the dry dock at the Jiangnan Shipyard, where the Fujian aircraft carrier was built, has been cleared out and is being prepared for the construction of a "new toy"......

Some speculate that an improved version of the Type 003 aircraft carrier will also be built (still conventionally powered, but with fixes for the Type 003's deck scheduling conflicts and updates to other systems). A Type 004 aircraft carrier (nuclear-powered) will also be built concurrently.

However, these are all rumors, and we need to wait and see.

Btw, the well-known Chinese military CG blogger "大包CG" has released the latest CG images of the Type 004 aircraft carrier. For entertainment purposes only.

 

[Nuffle]

According to satellite imagery, the dry dock at the Jiangnan Shipyard, where the Fujian aircraft carrier was built, has been cleared out and is being prepared for the construction of a "new toy"......

Some speculate that an improved version of the Type 003 aircraft carrier will also be built (still conventionally powered, but with fixes for the Type 003's deck scheduling conflicts and updates to other systems). A Type 004 aircraft carrier (nuclear-powered) will also be built concurrently.

Since it's the same shipyard that built the Fujian, I believe construction could be faster, which may mean the Type 003A (modified) could be launched by 2028.

 

[Michael]

Since it's the same shipyard that built the Fujian, I believe construction could be faster, which may mean the Type 003A (modified) could be launched by 2028.

This is still just a rumor. It's too early to draw conclusions.

I hope they skip Type 003A and start building a 100,000-120,000 ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier directly.

 

[wangdefa]

This is still just a rumor. It's too early to draw conclusions.

I hope they skip Type 003A and start building a 100,000-120,000 ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier directly.

Yes, since we have an improved plan, why can't we put nuclear power together and experiment with it? There's no need to build another conventional engine. Our designers are too conservative and not radical enough.

 

[Michael]

Yes, since we have an improved plan, why can't we put nuclear power together and experiment with it? There's no need to build another conventional engine. Our designers are too conservative and not radical enough.

There's a rumor circulating about this issue, but its veracity is uncertain.

Reports suggest that China plans to directly use a new generation of nuclear power (thorium-based molten salt reactors) instead of earlier nuclear power technologies to propel its aircraft carriers. This technology would significantly improve operational efficiency.

However, the capability that China has successfully verified so far requires refueling every 20-25 years. It currently cannot achieve the capability of an aircraft carrier operating without refueling throughout its entire lifespan. We need more time to address this issue.

Using earlier nuclear power technologies could achieve the capability of an aircraft carrier operating without refueling throughout its lifespan. However, the associated risks of nuclear leakage and operational efficiency are unsuitable. ------ The US Navy's newest Ford-class aircraft carriers use pressurized water reactors.

This is actually a leap forward. We shouldn't have overly high expectations.

 

[wangdefa]

There's a rumor circulating about this issue, but its veracity is uncertain.

Reports suggest that China plans to directly use a new generation of nuclear power (thorium-based molten salt reactors) instead of earlier nuclear power technologies to propel its aircraft carriers. This technology would significantly improve operational efficiency.

However, the capability that China has successfully verified so far requires refueling every 20-25 years. It currently cannot achieve the capability of an aircraft carrier operating without refueling throughout its entire lifespan. We need more time to address this issue.

Using earlier nuclear power technologies could achieve the capability of an aircraft carrier operating without refueling throughout its lifespan. However, the associated risks of nuclear leakage and operational efficiency are unsuitable. ------ The US Navy's newest Ford-class aircraft carriers use pressurized water reactors.

This is actually a leap forward. We shouldn't have overly high expectations.

The 004 aircraft carrier is highly likely to be nuclear-powered. There are rumors that it will use China's third-generation nuclear power technology, with the "Linglong One" as its powertrain. As the first nuclear-powered experimental aircraft carrier, the use of mature technology can accelerate our service time.

If the guess is correct, with the existing mature technology, 004 will be the "Fujian enhanced version" of nuclear power, and its templates will be quickly mass-generated.
According to the Chinese military, the news that the "Fujian" can be mass-produced is in line with speculation.

 

[nang2]

There's a rumor circulating about this issue, but its veracity is uncertain.

Reports suggest that China plans to directly use a new generation of nuclear power (thorium-based molten salt reactors) instead of earlier nuclear power technologies to propel its aircraft carriers. This technology would significantly improve operational efficiency.

However, the capability that China has successfully verified so far requires refueling every 20-25 years. It currently cannot achieve the capability of an aircraft carrier operating without refueling throughout its entire lifespan. We need more time to address this issue.

Using earlier nuclear power technologies could achieve the capability of an aircraft carrier operating without refueling throughout its lifespan. However, the associated risks of nuclear leakage and operational efficiency are unsuitable. ------ The US Navy's newest Ford-class aircraft carriers use pressurized water reactors.

This is actually a leap forward. We shouldn't have overly high expectations.

From engineering point of view, I would recommend building 003A. Usually, building the first one is learning a new lesson. Building another one is doing the homework after the lesson so the experience learned is baked in. Few people become proficient just by doing something once. Also, it helps amortize the design cost.

 

[Aziqbal]

Yes, since we have an improved plan, why can't we put nuclear power together and experiment with it? There's no need to build another conventional engine. Our designers are too conservative and not radical enough.

definitely no

China needs a second 003A to learn from it

it needs 004 and learn from it

just like Type 054 and Type 052C and all the other warships in pairs

just like CV-16 and CV-17

003A should come from JNCX then 005

by that time they can learn the lesson from 004 and its also nuclear powered and Chinas first CVN there will be plenty to improve on

 

[Ali_Baba]

Interesting video on the limitation of the design of the Fujian carrier for sortie rate generation capabilities do to overlap of landing deck and the cats for launch. Worth watching the video.

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[Muji.Iqbal]

These aircraft carriers look pretty awesome/cool.

Looks like China has come a long way since the 90's & 80's.

 

[wangdefa]

definitely no

China needs a second 003A to learn from it

it needs 004 and learn from it

just like Type 054 and Type 052C and all the other warships in pairs

just like CV-16 and CV-17

003A should come from JNCX then 005

by that time they can learn the lesson from 004 and its also nuclear powered and Chinas first CVN there will be plenty to improve on

你说的，是中国传统设计师常规作的结果。他们非常保守，“福建”号航母采取了非常大胆的想法。它们是由一群年轻人设计的，年轻人的区别在于他们的大胆尝试。他们可以打破常规。近年来，中国各行各业都在交接工作，年轻人成为主力军。无论是飞机和航天工业，还是卫星发射场，曝光的镜头主要是年轻人。
China's technology has entered the explosive stage, this is the result of accumulating enough knowledge for future application. From a year ago, robots that walked unsteadily can now give commands with voice control and cool actions. New technology means that the next generation of designs can iterate quickly. Why do we need to stick to the rules?

 

[Yommie]

View attachment 159323I'm more interested in the 004 aircraft carrier, and some people speculate that this is the location of the nuclear-powered boiler.

004 should be a mass produced design, unlike the one offs like 001, 002, 003.

 

[Aziqbal]

你说的，是中国传统设计师常规作的结果。他们非常保守，“福建”号航母采取了非常大胆的想法。它们是由一群年轻人设计的，年轻人的区别在于他们的大胆尝试。他们可以打破常规。近年来，中国各行各业都在交接工作，年轻人成为主力军。无论是飞机和航天工业，还是卫星发射场，曝光的镜头主要是年轻人。
China's technology has entered the explosive stage, this is the result of accumulating enough knowledge for future application. From a year ago, robots that walked unsteadily can now give commands with voice control and cool actions. New technology means that the next generation of designs can iterate quickly. Why do we need to stick to the rules?

Excuse me what rules ?

Conventional 003A is a perfectly good platform

Not every single carrier has to be nuclear

I am sure USN did a study and 80,000 tons + was the tonnage where the cut off for conventional to nuclear based on cost of fuel and lifetime was

I am sure China has done a similar study and calculation

France went nuclear for a smaller carrier and their Carrier has a terrible deployment record