Author Topic: Is China building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?  (Read 1073 times)

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SPQR

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Is China building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?
« on: December 28, 2013, 08:04:50 am »
China is constructing a 110,000-tonne nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with the capability to challenge the USS Gerald R Ford — the largest carrier in the United States Navy — either on Shanghai's Changxing island or in Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning province, according to the Moscow-based Russia Today.

According to a Dec. 23 report by New Delhi-based Business Standard, China's new domestic aircraft carrier is based on the blueprint of a 80,000-tonne carrier constructed in the former Soviet Union during the Cold War, which was designed to carry 60 aircraft.

Concerning the rumors, Li Jie, a senior colonel in the PLA Navy, told the state-run Global Times that China is capable of constructing such an aircraft carrier but added that it is doubtful that the country will look to do so at present as the PLA Navy does not presently need such a big ship.

He said that operating a 110,000-tonne nuclear-powered carrier in open waters would be more complicated than constructing one and that the PLA Navy will need time to prepare and study the possibilities before starting construction.

"We have to know how many aircraft we want to operate with the carrier," said Li. "It is also crucial to know how the aircraft will take off from and land on the carrier and what kind of power we need to operate the ship before building it." Li added that it is also important to consider what kind of challenges the ship will face once operating in the open sea.

Before China starts to think about building its next-generation aircraft carrier, the Global Times said that it is important for the PLA Navy to fully understand the Liaoning, the nation's first aircraft carrier, a refitted conventional Soviet-era carrier purchased from the Ukraine. Operating an aircraft carrier is even a difficult task for the United States Navy which has had almost 100 years of experience with the vessel, the paper said, adding that it will not be easy for China as a beginner.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20131225000138

Offline Chieftain

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Re: Is China building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2013, 01:01:06 pm »
Utter nonsense.  Building a nuclear carrier is one thing.  Operating it is another.  The US has over a century of experience operating all kinds of aircraft off of carriers, and even if you gave the Chinese the USS Gerald Ford as a gift, they could not operate it effectively no matter how hard they tried.

But if they want to spend the money, why stop them?

SPQR

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Re: Is China building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2013, 05:32:10 pm »
Utter nonsense.  Building a nuclear carrier is one thing.  Operating it is another.  The US has over a century of experience operating all kinds of aircraft off of carriers, and even if you gave the Chinese the USS Gerald Ford as a gift, they could not operate it effectively no matter how hard they tried.

But if they want to spend the money, why stop them?

Why would they publish a story if they were serious about it? You know that the Russians have been assisting PLAN in the fundementals of aircraft carriers. There are books printed by the USNI on how to run aircraft carrier. Tom Clancy dedicated an entire book on how to run an aircraft carrier called "Carrier".
« Last Edit: December 28, 2013, 05:57:27 pm by SPQR »

Offline EC

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Re: Is China building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2013, 06:23:01 pm »
Keep an eye on the Liaoning. How long she is at sea and how often. If they send her out a lot, they'll have plenty of time to work up a solid crew base for a nuclear carrier. You don't build those things in a day.
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SPQR

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Re: Is China building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2013, 06:26:36 pm »
Keep an eye on the Liaoning. How long she is at sea and how often. If they send her out a lot, they'll have plenty of time to work up a solid crew base for a nuclear carrier. You don't build those things in a day.

I am sure that they are getting a lot of help from the Russians.

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Re: Is China building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier?
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2013, 06:40:32 pm »
I am sure that they are getting a lot of help from the Russians.

They are - willingly.
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