In line with its citadel approach in the South China Sea, China has unveiled a super-ship concept— a railgun-armed nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It might, however, be more of a fame weapons than an actual warship design. & nbsp,
Ma Weiming, China’s top naval scientist, has proposed a futuristic warship that could turn naval fleets into Star Wars-style super-ships, according to the South China Morning Post( SCMP ) this month. Ma published his style in Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, a peer-reviewed blog.
The super-ship, according to the SCMP, could transport a variety of aircraft but differs from conventional carriers in that it is strongly armed with electric weapons like railguns, coilgun, rocket launchers, laser weapons, and powerful microwaves.
A second warship can effectively protect against air attacks, engage in anti-submarine warfare, intercept missiles, and deliver accurate strikes on both marine and land targets thanks to the ship’s advanced technology, which effectively transforms energy from its power source into the electric energy needed to power high-powered weapons.
According to the source, the super-ship’s extensive nuclear-powered system system could transform nuclear energy into usable kinetic energy or electricity to power high-energy weapon systems, such as on-board railguns that was fire guided ordnance at targets in close quarters at a speed up to seven times the speed of sound.
Additionally, it claims that electromagnetically launched missiles could be automatically reloaded like an automated weapons, allowing for much faster and more frequent firing than adversaries.
Soviet-era precedence
China’s super-ship might become a contemporary interpretation of the Soviet-era air cruiser idea. The functions of an aircraft carrier and a ship are combined in the aviation cruise ship. The air cruiser can take on surface, air, and marine threats with superior weaponry, in contrast to standard aircraft carriers that rely solely on their on-board air wings for insulting power.
These vessels include the Admiral Kuznetsov and Kiev-class ships. Air ships support and defend nuclear ballistic missile submarines( SSBN ), surface ships, and missile-carrying bombers within protected water bastions, in contrast to US carriers, which were generally built as floating airbases for global energy project. & nbsp,
But, it frequently results in problems when designing ships that combine radically unique capabilities, with one type of ship and the other. This weakness was clear in the case of aviation cruisers from the Soviet era, which had rigid weapons, tiny flight decks, very few and short-ranged onboard aircraft, and subpar seakeeping capabilities.
They cost more than area combatants or aircraft carriers of a similar size, but they performed worse than either kind. Additionally, because there are so many US nuclear attack submarines( SSNs ), finding them was impossible for so few of these ships.
Despite this, China’s South China Sea fortress technique may have helped to revive the aircraft cruiser concept thanks to technological advancements. The place will be protected using that approach, which includes land-based aircraft, rockets, naval forces, and fortified islands.
The South China Sea is the perfect place for the technique due to its semi-enclosed configuration and close proximity to China’s shores. China is moving in this direction with its SSBN ship, according to Hainan’s sizable underwater center. & nbsp,
Railgun growth, nuclear engine, and developing underwater recognition technologies are among the scientific developments that may make the aviation cruiser concept workable in China’s bastion strategy. & nbsp,
For instance, China researchers are currently working to address the problems of railgun development, according to a report by Asia Times in April 2022 & nbsp. In order to minimize firing wear and damage from repeated sackings, they are intensifying tool trials and testing cutting-edge solutions like applying melted metal to rails.
Their rocket models have distinctive characteristics that set them apart from US models. For example, their models don’t need a second nose to lessen electric flashes.
US encounter
In contrast, the US halted analysis on howitzer technology in 2021 due to financial constraints, difficulties integrating combat systems, and fast weapon technology maturation. Additionally, there have been problems with the US rocket project’s chamber design, lifespan, and materials that can withstand projectile power pulses, heat, or pressure. & nbsp,
Additionally, China’s electromagnetic aircraft launch system( EMALS ) technology may aid in resolving the issues with the aircraft complement of Soviet-era aviation cruisers.
In May 2022, Asia Times reported that the Fujian, China’s second aircraft carrier, has an EMALS system that doesn’t need nuclear energy. This technique is easier to operate and puts less strain on the airframes. Furthermore, it has a shorter timeframe and you launch heavier aircraft, increasing the number of aircraft in the air more effectively.
The amount of energy and armament that the embarked aircraft you have is constrained by the ski-ramp design of China’s two older companies, Liaoning and Shandong.
Additionally, China’s third aircraft carrier is most likely nuclear-powered, providing the energy required to run energy-intensive technologies like railguns and EMALS.
According to Asia Times, China intends to create a nuclear-powered ship called” Type 003″ by 2025. By 2027, it hopes to make a significant advancement in nuclear-powered technology, which could be applied to the creation of the carrier, according to China State Shipbuilding Corporation( CSSC ). A mock-up of the proposed provider has already been leaked by CSSC. & nbsp,
Additionally, advancements in hero detection technology might make it possible for China’s supership to successfully carry out anti-submarine missions.
Due to the proliferation of commercial technologies like satellite imagery, synthetic aperture radar ( SAR ), and social media disseminated tracking, as well as the extremely low frequency( ELF ) and terahertz signal detection, the US SSBNs and SSNs may become more vulnerable than before, which could have serious repercussions for nuclear deterrence and provide its allies with guarantees of long-term preventive measures. Asia Times has previously written about these developments. & nbsp,
However, because the idea concentrates so little capability into a small number of possible vulnerable ships over smaller, several, and dispersed assets, China’s super-ship may be more of an prestige project than an effective warfighting platform.