Facebook Twitter 新浪微博 Instagram YouTube Friday, May 27, 2016
Search
Archive
English
English>>

China's new aircraft carrier still needs time before launch, expert says

By Gao Yinan (People's Daily Online)    14:37, May 27, 2016
China's new aircraft carrier still needs time before launch, expert says
China's domestically produced J-15 carrier-based fighter, nicknamed "Flying Shark," will be deployed on the country's second aircraft carrier (Photo/Xinhuanet)

Popular Science,a monthly magazine of science and technology published in the U.S., recently unveiled the latest development of China's first domestically built aircraft carrier. The article, entitled "China's New Carrier Gets A Ski Ramp," explains that the carrier already has most of its hangar bay installed. The next steps are the ski ramp, control tower island and flight deck.

Chinese military expert Cao Weidong said in an interview with Today's Asia that if the project has already progressed to the point of installing a ski ramp deck, then the carrier’s launch must not be far off. But the remaining construction still needs some time, Cao added.

On the afternoon of December 31, 2015, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that China is building a second aircraft carrier. Defense Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun said the carrier had been designed in China, and would be built in the port of Dalian.

The conventionally powered carrier will have a displacement of 50,000 tons, will be able to accommodate J-15 fighter jets, and the fixed-wing on-board aircraft will feature a ski-jump take-off mode.

Since the beginning of the year, many modules have already been assembled on China's new carrier, including the below-deck hangar bay and openings for aircraft elevators, according to Popular Science. The carrier is expected to be launched in 2017, with commissioning between 2019 and 2020.

Based on the experience of countries like the U.S. and U.K., it can take years to construct and commission an aircraft carrier, reported CCTV. Newport News Shipbuilding started construction of the USS Gerald R. Ford, also known as CVN-78, in November 2009; that carrier was not launched until October 2013. The first Queen Elizabeth carrier started construction in 2009 and was launched in 2014. Its expected service time is 2017.

China's carriers will use an electromagnetic catapult to launch aircraft in the future, said Cao Weidong. So far, only the U.S. uses electromagnetic catapult technology, which represents the future direction of aircraft carrier catapult technology, Cao added. 

(For the latest China news, Please follow People's Daily on Twitter and Facebook)
(Editor:Bianji,Wu Chengliang)

Add your comment

Most Viewed

Day|Week

Hot News

We Recommend

Photos

prev next