The fourth aircraft carrier that the Chinese Navy will have already under constructionas confirmed by Chinese military analysts and collects the Defense Information Army Recognition. The new class nuclear propulsion aircraft carriers Type 004 is designed to compete with class Ford American, both located in the category of Superportaavions.
What is a superport
SuperporteAvions are considered to those who displace more than 100,000 tonsthey have the capacity to operate more than 60 aircraftthey have a system Catobar -Well with Steam or electromagnetic catapults– For the launch of the airplanes and employ Nuclear propulsion. They are the largest warships that exist and, for the moment, The United States is the only country that has this type of operational vessels. But this naval domain will be faced by China with its type 004.
Type 004 against USS Gerald R. Ford (Ford Class)
The construction of the aircraft carrier would have begun in the Dalian shipyardaccording to satellite images and leaks. Type 004 is expected to move between 110,000 and 120,000 tons and have capacity for more than 90 aircraftamong those who will be from 24 to 30 heavy fighters J-15T And more than 20 furtive fighters J-35in addition to platforms AEW KJ-600 and future unmanned systems.
On the contrary, the Ford class displaces 100,000 tons and operates 75 aircraftincluding poachers F-35cairplanes AEW & C E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and EA-18G Growler of electronic warfare. Both type 004 and USS Gerald R. Fordin service since 2017 and only US Ford class, they use electromagnetic catapults for the launch of the fighters.
Type 004 will also be China’s first surface boat with nuclear propulsion. Will use two or more pressure water reactors Longwei Pwr adapted for maritime use and with an estimated combined power of between 450 and 500 megawatts. This energy will not only serve to propel the aircraft carrier, but will feed electromagnetic catapults for the take -off of aircraft, high capacity radars and also energy weapons directed in the future. The Ford class uses two reactors A1B that generate more than 700 megawatts. The use of nuclear propulsion provides both classes of aircraft carriers practically unlimited scope.
The new aircraft carrier will not navigate alone, but will be escorted by the most modern ships of the Chinese fleet, according to Chinese analysts. This includes furtive destroyers Type 055a/bnew generation frigates Type 054b and attack nuclear attacks Type 095.
The other three aircraft carriers
The other three aircraft carriers already have Liaoning (type 001), Shandong (type 002) and Fujian (type 003). Type 004 is an important technological leap compared to the first two, but also in front of the modern Fujianwhich has electromagnetic catapults but uses conventional propulsion.
Liaoning is, in fact, an old Soviet Kuznetsov limited by its ramp Ski-Jumpwhich does not allow aircraft to take off as much weight and electromagnetic catapults. The Shandong, the first built in China, is equally limited when using the same launch system. The number of aircraft that can embark the predecessors of type 004 is 60 to 70 In the Fujian and between 36 and 44 in the Liaoning and Shandong.
Type 004 will be one of the world’s largest warships
The dimensions of type 004 will be between 330 and 340 meterspractically like the Ford class (337 meters) and above the Fujian (316 meters), Liaoning and Shandong, the latter around 305 meters.
With type 004, China wants to consolidate as a naval force to take into account, although the United States has a much greater path. Currently, he has 11 Operational Superport (1 of the Ford class and 10 of the class Nimitz) to those who will add in the coming years 3 new Ford classwhich are in different phases of tests at sea or construction, with entry into service planned for the years 2028, 2032 and 2035as the case.