American magazine NSJ published an article titled "Russia or China Would Want to Have the Truman Carrier" on September 29.

The article aims to create a narrative that the Nimitz-class carrier is a strategic treasure coveted by the entire world.

The article exaggerates the size, nuclear power, number of aircraft, and combat records of the Truman carrier, repeatedly emphasizing that the Nimitz-class carrier, as a tool for U.S. power projection, has both strategic deterrence and practical combat records, and believes that China and Russia must be eager to possess such a weapon.

This kind of title and tone can easily mislead readers who are not familiar with the development of carriers, making them believe that China is still at the stage of looking up to the Nimitz, trying to counter the impact of Fujian on the United States.

Although the Nimitz class was once the mainstay of the U.S. military during the Cold War, its steam catapult and traditional nuclear power line have become outdated, especially in today's era where electromagnetic catapults and aircraft systems are constantly evolving. Simply portraying the Nimitz as a dream ship is pure self-deception.

American Aircraft Carrier

If we have to compare, Fujian has already surpassed the Nimitz class in multiple key dimensions.

First, Fujian is the first Chinese aircraft carrier to adopt an electromagnetic catapult, while the Nimitz class remained at the steam catapult stage from its inception to retirement. The advantages of electromagnetic catapults are obvious: smoother acceleration control, better compatibility with various aircraft, higher takeoff efficiency, and less maintenance burden.

The steam catapult of the Nimitz not only has low efficiency but also has significant energy consumption and mechanical fatigue problems, which are considered outdated technology now.

Second, looking at the aircraft system, Fujian successfully took off and landed the J-15T, J-35 stealth carrier-based aircraft, and the KJ-600 early warning aircraft during sea trials, proving that its platform has the capability to accommodate stealth fighter jets and carrier-based early warning aircraft. However, the main aircraft of the Nimitz when it was commissioned were the F-14, later the F/A-18, and the large-scale introduction of stealth carrier-based aircraft did not begin until the Ford class.

China directly achieved the combination of stealth carrier-based aircraft and electromagnetic catapult on the 003 type, something the Nimitz never achieved.

Looking at the deck design and island layout, Fujian absorbed the concept of streamlined scheduling during the design phase, optimizing the position of elevators and the volume of the island. Compared to the bulky and cramped deck of the Nimitz, this is a generation gap.

Even in terms of displacement, Fujian's over 80,000 tons is no less than that of the Nimitz, and its potential for full-load takeoff rate is even higher.

More importantly, Fujian represents the advantage of being a latecomer, allowing China to skip the long cycle of steam catapults and avoid common problems of electromagnetic catapults from the beginning.

Therefore, if the Nimitz class is compared with Fujian, it can only be seen as a relic of the last century. What is there for the Chinese Navy to yearn for?

American Aircraft Carrier

Looking ahead, the 004 carrier will be a complete dominance over the American carrier.

According to current analysis, the 004 type will adopt nuclear power, providing almost unlimited energy for electromagnetic catapults, phased array radar, and future energy weapons.

This means it will leave the Nimitz far behind at the design stage and stand on the same level as the Ford class.

However, compared to the Ford class, the 004 also has the advantage of being a latecomer. The electromagnetic catapults, advanced arresting gear, and elevators of the Ford class have frequently encountered reliability issues for more than a decade, and the takeoff rate has failed to reach the target. Multiple audit reports from the U.S. Congress have repeatedly criticized this.

China has avoided these defects in the design of the 003, making more stable engineering optimizations in power system redundancy, control algorithms, and cooling and heat dissipation. When the 004 nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is put into service, it will be even more mature and complete.

In addition, the 004 is expected to have a displacement of over 100,000 tons, with more and more types of carrier-based aircraft than Fujian. Stealth fighter jets, carrier-based early warning aircraft, and drone swarms will form a composite formation. This platform not only surpasses the Nimitz but is also fully capable of surpassing the Ford class.

China's aircraft carrier development path has gone from 002 to 003 to achieve the leap to electromagnetic catapults, and then from 004 directly fast-forward to nuclear power and super platforms. The Americans spent half a century to evolve from steam catapults to electromagnetic catapults, while China completed this leap in just two generations. If the 004 proceeds as planned, it will comprehensively surpass the Ford class in reliability and system matching.

Fujian Carrier

That is why saying that Russia is envious and China is also envious of the Nimitz is entirely the fantasy of the American media.

Russia indeed has a sense of envy in the aircraft carrier field, as it no longer has any carriers available, and due to technological and industrial foundations, it is almost impossible to build a carrier like the Ford class.

But China is completely different. China has proven with the Fujian that it has the most advanced electromagnetic catapult technology in the world, and is currently advancing the construction of the 004-type nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

China would never be envious of the Nimitz, because it is a product of the previous generation.

China is taking a different route - directly aiming for the future, achieving direct confrontation with the most advanced aircraft carriers of the United States through rapid leaps.

While Americans are still indulging in the narrative that the Nimitz is the object of the world's desire, China has already proven with actual progress that we do not need to yearn for anyone; we have already found our own path.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7555776075151524352/

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