The entry of China’s first aircraft carrier, the LIAONING, into service with the People’s
Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) attracted considerable attention from both the Chinese press and
military observers around the world. It is China’s first aircraft carrier, and symbolizes
the Chinese militaries intention to modernize its armed forces. Though the intimate details
of the carrier are not clear, but fundamental specifications of the vessel are available.
The Nimitz-class super carriers are a class of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in
service with the United States Navy. The lead ship of the class is named for World War II
United States Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Chester W Nimitz. Nimitz has been symbol of
United State’s military might, and has been used to project power far from its coastlines.
In this video, Defense Updates compares the
two aircrafts carriers based on 5 key aspects, and provides an unbiased conclusion.
So, let us get started.
The Kuznetsov-class aircraft carriers were
the last class of aircraft carriers designed for the Soviet Navy.
Two hulls were laid down in the Ukrainia before
the Soviet Union collapsed. Kuznetsov serves today in the Russian Navy.
The other hull was purchased in 1998 by the
People's Republic of China, and towed to Dalian shipyard in northeast China. After being completely
rebuilt and undergoing sea trials, the ship was commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers were designed
to be improvements on previous U.S. aircraft carriers, in particular the Enterprise and
Forrestal-class.
All ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers were constructed between 1968 and 2006 at Newport
News Shipbuilding Company, Virginia, in the largest dry-dock in the western hemisphere.
The Liaoning’s size falls well below the
U.S. Nimitz-class carriers, the latter being over 60 percent heavier and 30 meters longer.
Nimitz-class displaces about 100,000 tonnes and spans 333 meters long, far out sizing
the Liaoning. The numbers bear out the fact that the Liaoning is neither a lightweight
nor a super carrier like the Nimitz class.
Size has undeniable impact on the capability of any aircraft carrier as it determines the
number of aircrafts that it can operate. Liaoning’s air wing of 30 Shenyang J-15
multirole fighters falls well short of Nimitz class capability to hold over 55 jets.
It can be easily inferred that Nimitz has
a distinct advantage over the Liaoning.
Liaoning is powered by gas turbines with 8 boilers. The propulsion limits the Liaoning’s
range and endurance. Also, steam turbines can be unreliable and
even dangerous. Like at least one occasion during recent sea trials, Liaoning appeared
to suffer a steam explosion that temporarily knocked out the carrier’s electrical power
system. The failure was reported by Chinese media site Sina.com.
Nimitz class is powered by two A4W nuclear reactors, kept in separate compartments.
These power four propeller shafts and can produce a maximum speed of over 30 knots or
56 km/h.
As a result of the use of nuclear power, the
ships are capable of operating continuously for over 20 years without refueling and are
predicted to have a service life of over 50 years.
Clearly Nimitz class has huge advantage in terms of propulsion technology, and Liaoning
is no match for it in this category.
The J-15 aircraft are Chinese-modified variants
of the Russian fourth-generation Sukhoi Su-33. Fourth-generation fighters boast digital flight
avionics and advanced radars that represent a significant improvement over the analog
systems of third-generation aircraft.
Chinese J 20 stealth fighter is not for meant for carrier operation, and it will be sometime
before it inducts a stealthy carrier born aircraft.
The Nimitz strike fighters are primarily F18
Hornets, and F18 Super Hornets. These are twin-engine carrier-capable 4th generation
multirole fighter aircrafts.
US is also going to operate F35C very soon. The F-35C carries nearly 20,000 pounds of internal
fuel for longer range and better persistence than any other fighter in a combat configuration.
There is not much difference between the J-15 and F 18 Hornets or F 18 Super Hornets all
of them being 4th generation aircrafts.
The main consideration is that in near future,U.S will field F 35s, where as it will take a
much longer time before China can field a stealthy carrier based aircraft , giving slight
advantage to Nimitz.
Liaoning uses ski ramp to assist aircraft takeoffs. The U.S. Navy uses a more efficient
steam-powered catapult system to launch aircraft.
Ski-jump aircraft carriers have limitations, regarding how much ordnance can be loaded.
The weight restriction issue is caused by a minimum airspeed requirement for flight
from an aircraft carrier. Ski-jump aircraft carriers generate their airspeed from the
run-up distance on the deck of the aircraft carrier and an assist from the ski-jump.
Catapult aircraft carriers use a steam piston system that accelerates a shuttle attached
to the aircraft to produce a much higher end speed. Because the weight of the aircraft
impacts the end speed, the higher the weight of the aircraft the less end speed can be generated.
For example, the J-15 when launched from the Liaoning can only carry 4000 pounds of ordnance
before it reaches its minimum airspeed requirement, conversely, the F 18 Super Hornet can carry
over 12000 pounds of ordnance on a catapult aircraft carrier. The large differences between
the two aircraft carriers can certainly have impacts to tactical considerations for mission
planning and sortie generation rates.
Though carrier operators can bypass the inherent tradeoff between carrying internal fuel and
weapons on the aircraft, using midair refueling, the practice remains difficult to execute.
Clearly Nimitz class has distinct advantage in this category.
Liaoning is equipped with 3D air surface search radar over the main mast, and four multifunctional
APAR (active phased array radar) panels.
The aircraft carrier is armed with FL-3000 N missile system , Type 1030 close-in weapon
system (CIWS) and Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is supported by ASW rocket launchers.
The FL-3000 N uses the passive RF or IR guidance system. It can engage subsonic and supersonic
targets within the range of 9 kilometers and 6 kilometers respectively. The Type 1030 CIWS
fires 9,000 rounds / min.
Nimitz class possess multitude of different radars including electronically scanned array
3D radars. It is equipped with 16 to 24 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
or NATO Sea Sparrow missiles. RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a US ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft
and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles.
Its range is 19 km.
Close in weapon (CIWS) duties are performed by Phalanx, & IM-116 Rolling Airframe missile.
Phalanx CIWSs has a 4500 /min rate of fire. RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles have speed
in excess of 2 Mach.
Liaoning has no special protection, whereas Nimitz has 2.5 inch (64 mm) Kevlar over vital
spaces.
Nimitz class has more mature equipments when compared to Liaoning, giving it some advantage.
China's aircraft carrier, as well as the rest of its rapidly modernizing navy, puts Beijing
in an elite club with the greatest naval powers in the world.
Liaoning is an impressive first attempt by China.
But as evident from the comparison, Nimitz class is far ahead of Liaoning in terms of
inbuilt technology as well as the overall ecosystem.
China's first home-built aircraft carrier is nearing completion. Satellite photographs
indicate most major construction is complete, though much remains to be done, the carrier
probably won't be operational until 2020 at the earliest.
Ford class super-carriers are being built by US to replace some of the United States
Navy's existing Nimitz-class carriers. They are envisaged to be the most powerful carrier
in the world and will start to be commissioned from next year.
To know more check the above card.
Clearly the aircraft battle is expected to heat up even further in coming days.