Naval Air: Chinese Carrier Task Force At Sea
April 21, 2023: China’s second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, recently appeared off Taiwan with some escorts and carried out exercises involving its air group, which includes 24 J-15 jet fighters and a dozen helicopters and UAVs. The J-15 is a 32-ton twin-jet fighter-bomber that can carry up to 6.5 tons of bombs and missiles. J-15 entered service in 2013 as the heaviest carrier aircraft currently in service anywhere (which is not a good thing). So far 60 J-15s have been built and two have been lost due to accidents. China is working on a lighter, more reliable carrier aircraft to replace the J-15. During the recent exercise off Taiwan the Shandong carried out 80 takeoffs and landings with its J-15s. This was a realistic test of the carrier and its J-15s’ operation under wartime conditions. The Shandong’s task force also contained two destroyers, a frigate and a supply ship with more fuel.
China is building more carriers. In 2022 China launched its third aircraft carrier, the 80,000-ton Fujian (CV-18). Fujian is powered by steam turbines that generate the needed electrical power for its EMALS (electromagnetic aircraft launch system) in a conventionally powered carrier. Fujian was supposed to have three EMALS catapults but these were not installed and Fujian used conventional steam-catapults instead. Fujian turned out to be larger than expected, in part because of the space needed for the IEP (integrated electric propulsion) system that supplied the power for EMALS. The only other carrier using EMALS is the American nuclear-powered USS Ford. China was more deliberate in designing their EMALS system and appears to have learned from the mistakes the Americans made, and so delayed installing EMALS on Fujian.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htnavai/articles/20230421.aspx
