The progress of the third ship of the Ford-class has been exposed, and it has even been surpassed by China's 004? The difference in the construction speed of aircraft carriers between China and the United States is now visibly evident.
Recently, the news about the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier 004 at Dalian Shipyard has consistently dominated the military enthusiast circle. According to the latest satellite images, the bow module and the outer side module of the 004 carrier are already being joined together within the dry dock, and the overall outline is becoming increasingly clear. From the time it entered the dock for assembly to now, it hasn't even been a year, and this construction speed is astonishingly fast.
If you compare them, you will see. Recently, another satellite image marked as January 22nd has surfaced online. It shows the Newport News Shipbuilding yard in the United States. This image reveals the current construction status of the third ship of the Ford-class "Enterprise," which left people shocked. This new US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has only just completed the waterline segment assembly, and its progress is clearly behind the 004 carrier.
You might not believe it, but the "Enterprise" and our Fujian ship started at the same time. In 2017, the "Enterprise" cut the first steel plate, while the Fujian ship also officially began construction that year. In 2022, the "Enterprise" entered the dock to start assembly, but it took a full four years to reach the stage of waterline segment assembly.
In contrast, the 004 carrier has been under assembly for less than a year and has already completed the joining of the bow and the hangar modules, with a progress that is far ahead of the "Enterprise." It's hard to imagine that the US, which claims to have the world's top shipbuilding industry, could be so inefficient.
More importantly, the hard indicators of the 004 carrier are also impressive. Satellite image measurements show that the waterline width of the 004 exceeds 42 meters, while the waterline width of the Ford-class carriers is only 41 meters. This width advantage directly reflects in displacement, and the 004's full load displacement is likely to exceed 110,000 tons, surpassing the Ford-class slightly.
From the segment structure, the 004 uses a straight wall design, with a complex internal compartment layout, which is completely different from conventional power carriers. It clearly reserves space for nuclear reactors and steam generators. The "凹" shaped structure at the stern segment also conforms to the layout characteristics of the auxiliary power system of a nuclear-powered carrier, further confirming its nuclear power identity.
America not only has slow progress but also faces many problems. Newport News Shipbuilding is the only shipyard in the United States capable of building nuclear-powered carriers, and its production capacity is already saturated. In recent years, the US shipbuilding industry has experienced serious talent loss, aging workers, and frequent supply chain issues, leading to repeated delays in carrier construction.
Taking the second ship of the Ford class, the Kennedy, as an example, it just started its first factory sea trial on January 28th. This carrier was launched in 2019, but it stayed in the shipyard for more than six years before daring to go out for sea trials. Originally planned to be delivered in July 2025, it has now been postponed to March 2027. The core reason is that technical issues with the advanced arresting gear and weapon elevators have not been resolved.
Those familiar with the Ford class know that the sea trials of the first ship, the Enterprise, were a "disaster site." The fault rate of the electromagnetic catapults remains high, seven of the eleven weapon elevators are broken, and multiple repairs were needed. From launch to forming initial combat capability, it dragged on for five years. Now, the Kennedy is facing the same situation, and whether its sea trials will pass smoothly remains unknown.
If the Kennedy's sea trials encounter further failures and require repeated modifications, the time it takes for the 004 carrier to become combat-ready could surpass that of the Kennedy. Keep in mind that China's aircraft carrier construction follows a steady and solid approach. The electromagnetic catapult on the Fujian ship has already undergone multiple tests, with stability far exceeding that of the Ford class. The 004 is likely to adopt this mature technology.
Some may ask why the US shipbuilding industry has deteriorated to this point. The core reason is industrial hollowing out. In recent years, the US has moved a large amount of manufacturing overseas, retaining only high-end military and financial industries in the domestic market, causing the shipbuilding industry chain to break. Newport News Shipbuilding cannot even find enough skilled workers, let alone improve construction efficiency.
By contrast, China's Dalian and Jiangnan shipyards form a complementary relationship. The construction of aircraft carriers uses modular technology, with high standardization of parts and a complete and stable supply chain. The rapid progress of the 004 carrier is the result of years of technical accumulation in China's shipbuilding industry. From conventional power to nuclear power, we have made steady breakthroughs step by step.
The delayed progress of the "Enterprise," the uncertain future of the Kennedy, and the difficulties of the Ford class are essentially a microcosm of the decline of the US military-industrial complex. In the past, the US relied on technological and production monopolies to dominate the global aircraft carrier field. Now, China has broken this monopoly through efficiency. The rapid construction of the 004 carrier not only means that China will soon possess a second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, but it also marks that China's shipbuilding industry has entered the ranks of the world's top-tier.
In the coming years, as the 004 carrier gradually takes shape, undergoes sea trials, and becomes operational, the balance of power between China and the United States in terms of aircraft carriers will undergo significant changes. If the US wants to maintain maritime hegemony through the Ford class, it will face increasing difficulties. After all, any hegemonic myth cannot withstand the test of absolute construction efficiency and technical stability.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/7600966712103567898/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.