PRC Peoples Liberation Army Navy

[John Fedup]

I admit I don't know the actual capability of a HVP shell be it powder or EM launched. In the case of railgun launch, is there some kind of control of the shell? In a AA/anti- missile application, the incredible velocity of the projectile combined with state of the art radar should offer an enhanced defensive option. What kind of control Is possible with a Railgun projectile? Are there guidance technologies that could survive the enormous g-forces involved with these HVP, certainly this info is not in the public domain
.

 

[barney41]

IIRC there is a CSBA report that mentions the HVP will be command-guided and support some maneuver capability and some sort of proximity sensor.

 

[Milne Bay]

IIRC there is a CSBA report that mentions the HVP will be command-guided and support some maneuver capability and some sort of proximity sensor.

I think that this is a wish at the moment and has not been able to be accomplished yet.
Of course, if it comes to fruition it will change the usefulness of the weapon, but as it stands, I don't think that railguns are capable of hitting a moving target
MB

 

[barney41]

HVP is set to be turned over to the Army and Navy by year;s end. The Services will assume responsibility to transitioning the HVP into a working system including a variety of warheads to be fired from Navy deck guns and Army howitzers.

I think that this is a wish at the moment and has not been able to be accomplished yet.
Of course, if it comes to fruition it will change the usefulness of the weapon, but as it stands, I don't think that railguns are capable of hitting a moving target
MB

$86,000 + 5,600 MPH = Hyper Velocity Missile Defense

CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: The Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office will test-fire a radical new missile defense system in less than a year.The Hyper Velocity Projectile, a supersonic artillery round, is fired from ordinary cannon at 5,600 miles per hour(??? this is railgun speed; cannon HVP round will max out at Mach 3) and can kill incoming threats for a mere $86,000 a shot...

So when will the Army and Navy actually get Hyper Velocity Projectiles? Both services are already working with SCO to plan a handover of the program, Sabio said. His role is just to prove the key technology works: specifically, to demonstrate that an HVP can maneuver close enough to “an inbound, maneuvering threat” that it could have destroyed it if fitted with the proper warhead. Sabio’s not developing that warhead.

“We are building out the full fire control loop including the sensors, the coms links, the projectile, the launchers (i.e.) the guns,” he said. “The command and control…. I leave that to my independent transition partners, Navy and Army.”

And by when will the demonstration happen? “Well,” said Sabio, “my program ends less than a year from now.”



963SHARES

 

[weaponwh]

look like their 2nd carrier start sea trails now.

 

[StobieWan]

I saw that earlier - from what I can read, it's conventional steam turbine powered - really surprised it's not using GT's for propulsion (for the usual reasons, rapid start and acceleration) Steam takes a while to bring up to full power, plus is usually man power intensive.

 

[oldsig127]

I saw that earlier - from what I can read, it's conventional steam turbine powered - really surprised it's not using GT's for propulsion (for the usual reasons, rapid start and acceleration) Steam takes a while to bring up to full power, plus is usually man power intensive.

True, but nuclear or oil fired steam also provide for steam catapults, and GT doesn't. Maybe the Chinese are wary of EMALS style technology? It's widely reported - not necessarily accurately - that the QE class were meant at one point to use EMALS but the cost and uncertainty broughtthe change to ramps and F-35B so there'd be precedent

oldsig

 

[Ananda]

Chinese doing it step by step. Type 001A as this carrier known there, is modified design of type 001 (Liaoning) with bigger room in hanggar deck for more Aircraft (8 more according to Chinese media and forum). Thus they will use similar type of propulsions, with much improved sensors and electronics. Whether after this (type 002 and 003) they will jump to nuclear or other kind of propulsions remain to be seen. One thing, they have technology to go to nuclear, but Chinese seems so far like to go on step by step progresive development.

 

[spoz]

The Chinese aren’t using cats, same approach as the Russians, CTOL aircraft off a ski jump

 

[Todjaeger]

The Chinese aren’t using cats, same approach as the Russians, CTOL aircraft off a ski jump

I had been under the impression that the Russians, like the Indians, operate STOBAR as opposed to CATOBAR aircraft, neither of which are quite the same as CTOL.

 

[John Fedup]

I saw that earlier - from what I can read, it's conventional steam turbine powered - really surprised it's not using GT's for propulsion (for the usual reasons, rapid start and acceleration) Steam takes a while to bring up to full power, plus is usually man power intensive.

Is China currently manufacturing GTs that are large enough to power an aircraft carrier? While being a better choice, GTs have to be reliable and durable too, things that lag in Russian/ Chinese turbines. However China is pouring large sums of money into this technology so carrier four or five will likely have turbine power.

 

[swerve]

True, but nuclear or oil fired steam also provide for steam catapults, and GT doesn't. Maybe the Chinese are wary of EMALS style technology? It's widely reported - not necessarily accurately - that the QE class were meant at one point to use EMALS but the cost and uncertainty broughtthe change to ramps and F-35B so there'd be precedent

oldsig

The QE class was originally planned to be STOVL, so the ramps & F-35B were in the plans from the start. EMALS was not ready or sure to be ready, so wasn't seriously considered, at least not as part of the original fit-out. It was announced that they could be converted in future if wished, but no design work was done to facilitate future conversion. The only real provision was that they're big enough.

In 2010 a new minister of defence (Liam Fox - a total tosser) decided to have QE completed with EMALS, having accepted the 'could be converted' at face value & brushed off attempts to explain what it really meant, but after a lot of money working out how much work (e.g. ripping out a lot which had already been built) & time it'd take, & what it'd cost (all that work, & at least twice as much for the EMALS kit as his personally selected pro-EMALS political advisers claimed, IIRC) the idea was dropped & the original plans were reinstated in 2011. Still cost well over £100 million in work & delays. We'd ordered EMALS, & I'm not sure what that cost. The USN took over the order, so picked up most of the tab, but we may still have had to pay something.

 

[John Fedup]

IIRC, the F-35B versus F-35C debate was part of the problem too. Once the F-35B started to shine, EMALS, expensive and unproven, and the delays with the C version also helped end further CATOBAR considerations.

 

[KiwiRob]

Chinese doing it step by step. Type 001A as this carrier known there, is modified design of type 001 (Liaoning) with bigger room in hanggar deck for more Aircraft (8 more according to Chinese media and forum). Thus they will use similar type of propulsions, with much improved sensors and electronics. Whether after this (type 002 and 003) they will jump to nuclear or other kind of propulsions remain to be seen. One thing, they have technology to go to nuclear, but Chinese seems so far like to go on step by step progresive development.

Type 002 is already been laid down at Jiangnan shipyard, she's not nuclear powered, but she will use a Chinese version of EMALS, she will be quite different from Type 001A and a fair bit larger.

Type 003 and 004 are the full fat nuclear powered carriers equal to the Fords.

 

[Ananda]

Hmm..got conflicting info on what Type 002 propulsions will be. Some speculated in Chinese forums it will be still using proven steam turbines like Type 001A, and the catapults will also be steam ones..

Other already speculated that Chinese will jump to Emals, however the propulsions will used Ukraine Gas Turbines since steam turbines being considered not generating enough power to operated their Emals version effectively.

I do have reservation on last one..since I do not know Ukraine have Large Enough Gas Turbines to operate 70,000-75,000 tons Carrier (as Type 002 reported will be on that range). Personally until more clear info coming out, I do tend to believe Type 002 still used steam turbines with steam catapults. The Chinese do have both Steam and Emals catapults prototypes and research.

After that then 'potentially' they will go to Nuclear and Emals, since Chinese do have more matured Nuclear propulsions Tech relative to their Gas Turbines. Unless they make more progress on large GT, seems more convenience for them to go Nuclear rather than GT.

 

[ngatimozart]

Video of the PRC carrier Liaoning. It's a propaganda video, but it does show the carrier and what appears to be the CBG.

UPDATE: It appears that the Liaoning CBG has attained IOC.

Liaoning carrier group reaches initial operational capability | Jane's 360

 

[ngatimozart]

Leaked photo and possible details on PLAN CV 002. Looks to be a large beasty, somewhat larger than the RN QE class CV, is believed to be fitted with EMALS and be ready in 2021. It is thought that CV 003 will be the PLAN's first CVN.

A leaked photo shows China is building a supercarrier that could rival the US' Nimitz-class carriers

EDIT: I've merged a pre-existing Chinese Navy thread with this one. I just found it.

 

[Stampede]

Since the PLAN has migrated from a brown water, through green water to a blue water force, operating far from it's shores, it's time for its' own thread, given the PRC's geopolitical and geostrategic ambitions.

Leaked photo and possible details on PLAN CV 002. Looks to be a large beasty, somewhat larger than the RN QE class CV, is believed to be fitted with EMALS and be ready in 2021. It is thought that CV 003 will be the PLAN's first CVN.

A leaked photo shows China is building a supercarrier that could rival the US' Nimitz-class carriers

As suggested in the article- What does China need such ships for and what are her intentions.
ngatimozart as you suggest in the opening post the PLAN have gone from a brown water, to green, and now a Blue water force.
At the end of the day I guess this is change on a big scale achieved on a relatively short time table.
The thing about this large beasty is that it also accompanied by a growing force of modern escorts and supply vessels, impressive in capability, size and numbers.

The Chinese Communist party is unambiguous in developing the PLAN as a political tool of power projection for when soft power does not get its way.
This carrier program will no doubt see a 5th and 6th planned carrier for the PLAN with complimentary escorts, and this will bring significant change in the military balance for the oceans we share in the South Pacific, happening as early as the late 2020's or early 2030's.
Suggest the development of their LHD and LSD force is also an area to watch out for in the above time table.

In a decades time what would Australian and New Zealand make of a visiting PLAN battle group harboured in a small Pacific Island neighbour port.



Yes the PLAN need their own thread on DT.

Yes the ADF may want to up the order of P8's to 15 now.
Take the option of another two MRTTs for a force of nine, now,
Commit to 7 not 6 MQ-4C Tritons now.

Interesting times.
Regards S

 

[Feanor]

I'm not sure that the PLAN is as big of a threat as it is sometimes made out to be. Their experience in nuke subs is lacking, and their AShMs are often based on foreign export designs. The speed with which they have built their grand fleet is impressive, but their relative lack of experience of operating such a navy is a huge weakness. I think it will take considerably longer for the PLAN to build up the operating experience and add some those truly advanced capabilities to their otherwise impressive-looking force.

As far as their intentions go, it's unlikely they will be able to truly challenge the USN any time soon, and any major war between them and any of their powerful neighbors (Japan, South Korea or Taiwan), however unlikely this scenario is, would ultimately draw in the USA. It's far likelier that they will be used to support Chinese pretensions in Africa, and participate in the support of friendly regimes against relatively weak opponents, much like the role of the Russian VMF in the operation in Syria.

 

[Ananda]

Any of you gents have info on how many Type 52 and Type 55 destroyers PLAN will have in their planning.

Don't really got solid info on that from Chinese forums. The Chinese forumers tend to inflate the numbers to 30 Type 55 and 60 type 52.