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{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = SKYWATCH K3A PS 20210622T0518 TC Tile 0 0 5lwOsbXm visual.p
| Ship image = SKYWATCH K3A PS 20210622T0518 TC Tile 0 0 5lwOsbXm visual.png
| Ship caption = Type 003 under Construction at Jiangnan Shipyard
| Ship caption = Type 003 under Construction at Jiangnan Shipyard
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Revision as of 06:29, 5 July 2021

File:SKYWATCH K3A PS 20210622T0518 TC Tile 0 0 5lwOsbXm visual.png
Type 003 under Construction at Jiangnan Shipyard
Class overview
BuildersJiangnan Shipyard
Operators People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded byType 002
Succeeded byType 004
Planned1
Building1
General characteristics
TypeAircraft carrier
Displacement80,000–85,000 t (79,000–84,000 long tons) (full load)[1]
Length300 m (984 ft 3 in) (waterline)[2] 320 m (1,049 ft 10 in) (overall)[3]
Beam40 m (131 ft 3 in) (waterline)[4]
PropulsionConventional with integrated electric propulsion
Aviation facilitiesHangar deck

The Type 003 aircraft carrier is an aircraft carrier under construction for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China. It will be the first Chinese aircraft carrier to use a CATOBAR system[5] and electromagnetic (EM) launch catapults.[6][1]

The carrier's size is expected to be between the 85,000-ton Soviet aircraft carrier Ulyanovsk[7] and the United States Navy's 100,000-ton supercarriers.[8] The Type 003 is approximately 300 meters (984 ft 3 in) long, roughly the length of the US Navy's Gerald R. Ford-class ships.[9] Commercial satellite imagery indicated that its length was 320 meters and has a flight deck with a width of 73 meters.[10] Comparisons have also been drawn to the American 1960s-era Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers.[11] Robert Farley believes the Type 003 will be the "largest and most advanced aircraft carrier ever built outside the United States" when completed.[7]

The Type 003 was originally designated by observers as the "Type 002" when Shandong, China's then-incomplete second carrier, was called "Type 001A". Shandong's official designation, Type 002, was revealed during commissioning. Observers now believe the third carrier will be Type 003.[2]

Design

The Type 003 is expected to use integrated electric propulsion (IEP) and electromagnetic catapults,[6][1] whereas preceding Chinese carriers were conventionally powered and launched aircraft with ski jumps.[6][5]

In 2018, Kyle Mizokami predicted the carrier would operate an air group of 40 fighter aircraft, plus propeller-powered transport and airborne early warning and control aircraft.[12]

Development

The Type 003 was originally intended to use steam-powered catapults.[2] In 2013, PLAN Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo said that China's next aircraft carrier would be equipped with an EM launch system.[13] Multiple prototypes were spotted by media in 2012, and aircraft capable of using the system were tested at naval research facilities.[14] The change to EM catapults explain the increase in size from previous Chinese carriers.[2]

Construction began in the mid-2010s. The precise date is not known; The National Interest reported March 2015;[15] The Diplomat reported that "initial work" had begun in February 2016, followed by a notice to proceed given to the Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard Group in March 2017.[16]

Construction was reportedly delayed in June 2017 by EM and steam catapults tests.[17] By November 2017, the Navy had reportedly developed an IEP system - in lieu of nuclear power - to power EM catapults, allowing work on the Type 003 to resume.[6][18][19]

The block modules were moved from the manufacturing facility to the staging area in May 2020, and into dry dock in July 2020. Almost all of the keel and base hull blocks were in the dock by early September 2020; the foremost part of the bow was missing. Measurements based on satellite and aerial photography suggested a hull/waterline length of 300 meters - nearly the flight deck length of China's existing carriers - a maximum beam of 40 meters (131 ft 3 in), and a displacement of more than 85,000 tonnes (84,000 long tons).[2]

In mid-2020, anonymous Chinese sources projected a launch in the first half of 2021.[1] In September 2020, Rick Joe projected a launch in mid-2022 at the earliest.[2] China expects the carrier to enter service in 2023.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d O'Rourke, Ronald (29 March 2021). China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities - Background and Issues for Congress (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service. p. 14-15. RL33153. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Joe, Rick (29 September 2020). "003 and More: An Update on China's Aircraft Carriers". The Diplomat. Retrieved 31 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/07/chinas-new-super-carrier-how-it-compares-to-the-us-navys-ford-class#prettyPhoto
  4. ^ "Tracking China's Third Aircraft Carrier". 17 September 2020. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2020 (PDF) (Report). United States Department of Defense. 1 September 2020. p. 44, 47. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Minnie Chan (1 November 2017). "Breakthrough to power most advanced jet launch system on China's second home-grown aircraft carrier". South China Morning Post.
  7. ^ a b Farley, Robert (10 May 2019). "The Significance of China's Second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier". The Diplomat. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Exclusive: Analysts - Images show construction on China's third - and largest - aircraft carrier". Reuters. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  9. ^ Sutton, H I (21 April 2021). "China's New Aircraft Carrier Is In Same League as US Navy's Ford Class". Naval News. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  10. ^ Sutton, H. I. (2 July 2021). "China's New Super Carrier: How It Compares To The US Navy's Ford Class". Naval News. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  11. ^ Chen, Frank (28 May 2019). "Third PLA carrier could be China's Kitty Hawk". Asia Times. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  12. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (19 January 2018). "China's Next Aircraft Carrier Will Be a Massive Leap Forward". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Chinese aircraft carrier should narrow the gap with its U.S. counterpart". english.peopledaily.com.cn. People's Daily. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  14. ^ "简氏:中国试飞改进型歼-15 或用于测试电磁弹射器_《参考消息》官方网站". Cankaoxiaoxi.com. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  15. ^ "China's Next Aircraft Carrier: Everything We Know (So Far)". The National Interest. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  16. ^ "China Kicks Off Construction of New Supercarrier". The Diplomat. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  17. ^ "China Explores Electromagnetic Carrier Launch System". AIN online. 6 July 2017.
  18. ^ "China's New Aircraft Carrier to Use Advanced Jet Launch System". The Diplomat. 1 November 2017.
  19. ^ Johnson, Reuben F (2 November 2017). "China claims to have developed conventionally powered electromagnetic catapult". Jane's 360.
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