Planning for Operation FORTIS identified the scale of charting in certain areas was inadequate to support UKCSG freedom of manoeuvre. Sections of these waters are in geographically active, highly contested and geo politically sensitive regions of the world. The deployment covered 26,000 nautical miles, from the North Atlantic through the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific, visiting more than 40 countries and conducting numerous bilateral and multi-lateral exercises. The UKCSG is now capable of providing a significant maritime contribution to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), if required. Future carriers, such as the Type 003 aircraft carrier, are planned to use an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) that allows the launch of heavier and more advanced aircraft such as the Shenyang J-31 or the Chengdu J-20.On its inaugural recent operational deployment to the Far East, ‘Operation FORTIS’, the UKCSG collaborated with over 20 partner nations, joining force elements from other Navies. The Shandong, like its predecessor, uses the simpler Short Take-off Barrier-arrested Recovery (STOBAR) launch and recovery system. It includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system. The island also has redesigned radars and a new bridge, while the fleet command and flight control tower are on separate floors for more efficiency. Shandong has a broader flight deck but a shorter island superstructure than Liaoning to give more space for aircraft movements. It has increased storage for ammunition and fuel, with a larger aircraft capacity of 44 aircraft, eight more than Liaoning. It measures about 315 metres (1,033 ft) long, with a displacement of about 55,000 tonnes (70,000 loaded). It retains the ski jump takeoff, which limits its air wing to helicopters and Shenyang J-15 fighter jets, and the ship is powered by conventional oil-fired boilers driving eight steam turbines derived from the Soviet-designed examples installed on Liaoning. The aircraft carrier’s design is largely based on China’s first carrier Liaoning, which was itself built from the partially-complete hull of the Soviet Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Varyag. Shandong was constructed by the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, part of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, in Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Shandong was initially designated as a Type 001A air carrier during development but was finalized as Type 002 at commissioning. It is the country’s second aircraft carrier after the completion of Liaoning, and the first built domestically. Shandong is a first-generation Chinese aircraft carrier that was launched on 26 April 2017 for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). China is also building a new larger type of air defense destroyers, the Type 055. People’s Liberation Army Navy launched its second carrier, Shandong, in April 2017, with the ship entering service in December 2019. At present China’s only aircraft carrier, the CNS Liaoning, uses Type 052C or Type 052D destroyers for air defense, Type 054A frigates for anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, 1–2 Type 093 Shang nuclear submarines, and 1 Type 901 supply ship. People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) plans to set up several carrier battle groups in the future.
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