Is China's New Aircraft Carrier Design Real or Just a Virtual Concept?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the practicality and feasibility of a new Chinese aircraft carrier design, questioning whether it is a real concept or merely a virtual idea. Participants explore various aspects of the design, including its potential capabilities, engineering challenges, and comparisons to existing naval technology.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the practicality of the design, questioning its technical feasibility and the assumptions behind its capabilities.
  • Others argue that the design represents a significant advancement, citing potential advantages such as speed, stability, and operational capacity.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the structural integrity of a catamaran design, particularly the forces experienced by the hulls in rough seas.
  • Some participants highlight the engineering achievements of China, suggesting that these accomplishments could support the development of advanced naval vessels.
  • Counterarguments mention that the U.S. has considered similar technologies and that the Chinese design may not be as advanced as suggested.
  • There is a discussion about the implications of the design for military strategy, including the effectiveness of its operational capabilities compared to existing U.S. supercarriers.
  • Several participants note that the images shared do not constitute a formal design and lack technical feasibility studies.
  • Humorous remarks are made regarding potential issues with the construction materials and the crew's safety.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; multiple competing views remain regarding the viability and implications of the proposed aircraft carrier design.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various external sources and previous engineering projects, but there are unresolved questions about the assumptions underlying the claims made about the design's capabilities and costs.

Ranger Mike
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I got this from a friend over the internet...is this design practical or just some virtual design?
 

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That would be a little un-nerving for the pilots coming in for a landing, with the Phalanx gun and rocket launcher pointed right at you... :rolleyes:
 
is this is quantum leap above anything we have on the drawing board?
better speed, larger capacity, much more stable, etc. Definitely a " blue-water " long reach vessel.
Plus they can service their nuke sub fleet in-between the twin hulls ( sight unseen ) or even launch amphibious opps from same. It will be launched in half the time it takes the usa at just one-third the cost. Add the new chinese stealth fighter bomber ( naval version already flight testing ) in the mix and you have the makings of a formidable weapons system indeed..
Also look at that extra ''parking and readiness'' station between both hull structures.. And of course the launching and landing capabilities from the utilisation of twin flight decks at oncesix of these vessels ( two pacific, two atlantic, one indian ocean and one med sea ) would be a pretty good diplomatic " big stick ". Note : The chinese are already drilling for oil off cuba. Brazil and venezuela. Can they build a fleet of these things ?

A few facts: The chinese have completed the world's biggest dam ( three gorges ), the world's longest over-water bridge ( 65 times as much steel as in the eiffel tower ). Constructed a 15.000 ' high railroad into tibet (all considered major engineering feats).China's new a/c carrier could be twice as fast as anything we have, plus the stability of a catamaran type hull will greatly reduce the pitching, yawing and swaying common to our present designs.
 

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So what is the evaluation..is this thing a possibility?
 

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berkeman said:
That would be a little un-nerving for the pilots coming in for a landing, with the Phalanx gun and rocket launcher pointed right at you... :rolleyes:

That's not an issue, unless the pilots forget which end of the deck they are supposed to touch down on :smile:
 
Ranger Mike said:
A few facts: The chinese have completed the world's biggest dam ( three gorges ), the world's longest over-water bridge ( 65 times as much steel as in the eiffel tower ). Constructed a 15.000 ' high railroad into tibet (all considered major engineering feats).

.


United States has already considered stealth warships, so your concern that the Chinese are somehow more technologically advanced is unfounded, not that they do not know how to do things. Did you look at the links I provided... It is quite often an allocation of funds that drives the decision to steer in that direction.

As for the dam and railroad, yes the plan was Chinese but the vast majority of engineering work was done by outside consulting firms from other countries who had the know how, so your post should give them the credit due.
 
256bits - good points all...the post was copied from one of those pesky FORWARDS that friends can not help but send around the net...I do think the basic design bears scrutiny from an Engineers critical Eye...hence ..my post.

.thanks..
rm
 
I'm skeptical about the amount of force applied as the result of one hull having the front overhanging the trough of a wave with the peak supporting the stern...and the opposite happening on the other hull.

That would be an extreme amount of twist force.
 
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  • #10
I don't think we'll have to worry about Chinese super-carriers any time soon - catamaran or otherwise. Their first carrier (now in sea-trials) is an old refurbished Soviet carrier.
 
  • #11
I wouldn't call the pictures posted a "design" in any sense of the term; they're at best a shot-in-the-dark concept. It's a 3-D model that's designed to look pretty, it's had no technical feasability studies applied. I'm also suspicious of your claim "it will be launched in half the time it takes the usa at just one-third the cost." Wild guesses at a price for such an early concept are pure speculation (and it sounds to me like those estimates are bad speculation at that).

I agree with what turbo said, China won't be building chinese-designed supercarriers any time soon.
 
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  • #12
For each runway only one aircraft can take-off/land, which the current supercarrier design the U.S. has the capability of doing already but the current design is more material efficient. Other than size and capacity I don't really see any advantage militarily of this design.

Also, I'm not 100% sure but I don't think you can have helicopter pads below the deck -> higher risk of crashing I believe
 
  • #13
Mech Engineer..the post is NOT mine..
as I posted to 256bits above...it is an email forward i got in my email..and I copied it and posted it...

IT IS NOT MY CLAIM

and I highly value your opinion!
...just wanted to clear this up...
 
  • #14
$10 says it sinks.
 
  • #15
It won't matter how powerful it is after the crew goes crazy from lead poisoning on account of all the lead paint...
 
  • #16
maybe they use asbestos in construction?
 
  • #17
turbo said:
I don't think we'll have to worry about Chinese super-carriers any time soon - catamaran or otherwise. Their first carrier (now in sea-trials) is an old refurbished Soviet carrier.
And its a diesel. Agreed.
 
  • #18
I got this email aswell. Maybe somewhere down the line, we have mutual friends lol
 

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