Is China expanding its "carrier building" and will a new generation of aircraft carriers appear? According to multiple reports from the Observer Network, foreign media are particularly interested in China's ground-based aircraft carrier 1:1 simulation construction. Previously, ground facilities for China's aircraft carriers were discovered in Dalian and other locations, where 1:1 scale models were built for various planning purposes. This indicates that we first need to create a prototype on the ground before simulating the real conditions at the shipyard. By doing so, any mistakes during the actual shipbuilding process can be avoided, which will play an important role in improving progress and reducing costs.
Recently, Americans have noticed changes in our Wuhan aircraft carrier. Whether it is the island structure, carrier-borne aircraft, or the entire deck, there have been obvious changes. This new "carrier building" seen by Americans has several points: First, the deck has expanded outward, similar to America's "Ford"-class carriers. Moreover, Americans made a comparison, finding that the overall structure and dimensions of the aircraft carrier deck are basically the same as those of American aircraft carriers, with some even exceeding them.
Therefore, from the perspective of the outward expansion of the deck and its scale, China's next-generation aircraft carrier will have a larger displacement, especially in terms of deck operation capabilities, which will significantly improve. Second, there are more carrier-based aircraft. On the "carrier building," there are J-15s, J-35s, KJ-600s, and drones, indicating that the next aerial offensive strike capability will be even stronger with the new aircraft carrier. So, the Chinese take their work seriously.
First, ground 1:1 simulations are conducted, followed by various dimensional corrections and design planning, and then actual construction takes place at the shipyard. This shows that we proceed step by step. Through ground 1:1 simulations, we gain experience and ability, and our intuitive understanding is profound.
So what will the new aircraft carrier look like? We still need to wait and see. Although Americans mentioned two changes, if the aircraft carrier deck size really equals or exceeds that of the American "Ford"-class, then the title of "world's number one aircraft carrier" would not belong to the "Ford," but to Made in China. If China really manages to manufacture an aircraft carrier with a larger deck area, equipped with more carrier-based aircraft and more aviation weapons for use in naval and air combat environments, this would make the United States believe that its lagging behind would be greater.
Therefore, from now on, the appearance and changes in our "carrier building," as well as the expansion of its dimensions, indicate that we are indeed preparing for the next generation of aircraft carriers.
Aircraft carriers, like other weapons, need to be used, researched, and explored. Therefore, the "carrier building" could be a key part of researching a new generation. The expansion of deck area, the increase in the number of carrier-based aircraft, and the broadening of the carrier-based aircraft spectrum suggest that our next-generation aircraft carrier starts at a high level, surpassing the American "Ford"-class. Thus, America is particularly interested in China's 1:1 ground facilities, not just for a day or two. It also shows that America is very interested in the future development direction, scale, and combat capability of China's aircraft carriers. In short, the "Ford" may no longer hold the top position. If China's 004 emerges, it will have a serious impact on maritime combat capability, combat scale, combat concepts, and combat rules.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7495309350790119951/
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