Liaoning Province deployed two J-15T fighters.
In recent photos of the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers that have been publicly released, there are a large number of J-15T fighters conducting training on the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers. In fact, the J-35 began training on the Liaoning aircraft carrier last year as well. It is very clear that both the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers are currently serving as carrier-based aircraft training ships for the Fujian aircraft carrier. Since both the J-15T and J-35 are catapult-type carrier-based aircraft, but neither the Liaoning nor the Shandong aircraft carriers are equipped with catapults. Therefore, the J-15T fighters being trained on the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers will ultimately be assigned to the Fujian aircraft carrier. Although it is currently impossible to conduct catapult takeoff training on the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers, landing training is the same for both ski-jump and catapult-type aircraft carriers. In fact, for catapult takeoffs, pilots basically do not need to do much. Thus, catapult takeoff training is relatively simpler compared to landing. Conducting training for J-15T carrier-based aircraft on the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers will help the Fujian aircraft carrier rapidly form initial combat capability after its commissioning.
The gray nose is an important mark of the J-15T.
Currently, the Fujian aircraft carrier is already very close to commissioning and is about to begin large-scale carrier-based aircraft training. Moreover, CCTV has also publicly disclosed the aircraft launch capabilities of the Fujian aircraft carrier. The daily aircraft launch capability of the Fujian aircraft carrier is 270 to 300 sorties. This launch capability has already surpassed that of the American Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. During short-term missions, the Ford-class aircraft carrier can achieve up to 180 to 220 sorties per day, and even during a 30-day operational deployment, the Ford-class aircraft carrier can maintain a sortie rate of 160 sorties per day. The Fujian aircraft carrier only has three electromagnetic catapults, while the Ford-class aircraft carrier has four electromagnetic catapults. Given that the number of catapults is not advantageous, how did the Fujian aircraft carrier manage to surpass the Ford-class in aircraft launch capability?
Possible generator configuration for the Fujian aircraft carrier
Firstly, the Fujian aircraft carrier relies on more advanced generator systems. According to publicly available technical literature, the Fujian aircraft carrier and subsequent Chinese aircraft carriers may adopt an integrated power system composed of gas turbine generators, diesel generators, and steam turbine generators. Such a power system is far more advanced than the one used by the Ford-class aircraft carrier, which employs a system consisting of diesel generators and steam turbine generators. In reality, steam turbines powered by reactors primarily supply the more stable portion of electricity demand. On the other hand, the peak power demand for electromagnetic catapults is what truly challenges the power system. The main difference between the power systems of electromagnetic catapult aircraft carriers in China and the U.S. lies in who provides this peak power demand—whether it is provided by gas turbine generators or diesel generators.
The Fujian aircraft carrier may use gas turbines as the power source for its generators.
The electromagnetic catapults on the Fujian aircraft carrier likely rely mainly on gas turbine generators for their power. In contrast, the electromagnetic catapults on the Ford-class aircraft carrier are powered by diesel generators. For power users like electromagnetic catapults, which require high power and rapid response, using gas turbine generators clearly offers greater advantages over diesel generators. Gas turbines have larger power outputs, typically in the range of twenty to thirty megawatts per unit, whereas diesel generators usually only produce a few megawatts. Additionally, gas turbines are smaller in size; their volume is only one-third to one-fifth that of diesel engines at the same power level, significantly saving internal ship space. Gas turbines also start and accelerate quickly, making them particularly suitable for charging the energy storage systems of electromagnetic catapults. The Fujian aircraft carrier likely achieves its advantage in aircraft sortie capability through the superior performance of its gas turbine generator sets.
China's aircraft carrier electromagnetic catapult system has stronger catapult capability.
The reason why the Fujian aircraft carrier's aircraft sortie capability surpasses that of the Ford-class aircraft carrier is due to advanced technologies beyond just advanced power generation technology. The Ford-class aircraft carrier uses a less advanced medium-voltage AC integrated power system. The Fujian aircraft carrier's power system adopts an advanced medium-voltage DC integrated power system. Moreover, the electromagnetic catapult technology on the Fujian aircraft carrier is more advanced. The interval between launches from a single electromagnetic catapult on the Fujian aircraft carrier is only 15 seconds, whereas the interval for the Ford-class aircraft carrier's electromagnetic catapults is 30 seconds; if the type of carrier-based aircraft changes, the interval could extend to 45 seconds. In summary, the Fujian aircraft carrier's advantage in aircraft sortie capability is achieved through more advanced integrated power technology, power generation technology, and electromagnetic catapult technology.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514721631449711144/
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